What are the best exercises for a flat tummy?

Question

I'm a thin girl, but have a natural (though small) mitchellin man shape. how do I combat this? I'm only 8 stone something so I don't need to loose weight, just tone up.
Do those electronic belts you can buy actually work?

Answer 1

go on the toning tables they are designed for just what you want to do, there great and ya don't get all sweaty & sticky

Answer 2

The vibrating belts & the ones that make you twitch ARE useful, IF you do some static belly exercises WHILE YOU ARE USING IT. These exercises are taught in Yoga, but I've never seen them in the instruction book for the belt machines (some machines might have them). Pilates is also good for belly work.

Situps are OK, but it's best to do them backwards.

Start in the sitting position, with your knees bent, and then roll your torso back a little, as if you were going to lie down. Do this slowly and smoothly, and only go a little way back. When you've practised a bit, so that you can be comfortable with the movement, and you don't hold your breath or grit your teeth, you can try going a bit further back, before you come back up to sitting.

Keep trying to make the movement smooth and open, and don't be tempted to go too far back too soon. You'll probably find that your head moves FORWARDS at the start of the movement while the small of your back goes backwards; that's normal, and it allows your back to curl the right way to get better at the exercise. Don't let the 'curl' restrict your breathing. Eventually, you'll be able to roll your spine all the way to the ground 'one bone at a time', and still come back up without too much effort. Your head touches the ground last.

Doing this where you have a nice open view, of woodland or the sea, or some water, with some sky, is ideal because it keeps your head in the right place (physically as well as mentally)

AVOID the military-style 'grunt-grunt-grunt' situps and crunches; they restrict your breathing and raise your blood pressure, and it's hard to tell the difference between the effort of the exercise, and the feeling you get when you injure something (your back, for example)

IMPORTANT: It's a good idea to get checked out by your doctor before you starty a programme of exercises, in case you've already got a back, joint or circulation problem that you don't know about yet

Situps on their own won't change your shape; you'll have seen a lot of guys with a six-pack on their bulgey belly. If you want to get more of an hourglass shape, you need to do TWISTING MOVEMENTS that use your 'obliques' (diagonal abdominal muscles).

In gyms, this is done with a rotating platform you stand on, and turn your hips from side to side, while you hold a stationary handle so your shoulders and ribs stay still. Not all gyms have these. Shop around.

Those machines can be pretty boring. You can get a similar effect more playfully by doing a lot of SALSA DANCING, BELLY-DANCING, or walking with a Mae West wiggle (lots of hip movement, like catwalk models).

IMPORTANT: If you're not used to it, too much of these activities can injure your back, knees and ankles, so do a little bit and be patient about increasing the amount you do. Think in months and years, NOT days and weeks.

It's important to use a method that you can actually ENJOY !

Answer 3

there is not any way you receives a flat tummy without exercising habitual. I hate exercising habitual too even with the indisputable fact that it would not could be as confusing as you imagine. i have discovered some large (short) exercising habitual video clips on youtube that i'm using to purpose to assist me tone up. seem for those through Sparkpeople - they're truly good. and also you understand what? seems i actually sense particularly good after somewhat exercising. i'd even strengthen to love it.

Answer 4

Sit ups wont work.... think about the motion and the area that it actually works... i.e. the muscles from under your bust down to your belly button!

You need to work the inner core muscles... which will involve breathing techniques...

On all fours, with your knees hip width apart, and your hands shoulder width apart, spine flat, eyes down, so your neck is in line with your spine... suck your naval towards your spine, hold it in... whilst still breathing... hold for the count of 2, then gradually build up to as long as you can hold it in, whilst still breathing

Also you could practice the plank... but I wont go into that now... try the other exercise and do a google search....

Good luck

Cressi

Answer 5

I've never tried an electric belt but i got quite a toned stomach from doing the plank.

The Plank:

Lie face down on a hard surface (like the floor)
Balance yourself on your toes and arms, push your bottom down and your chest up and hold it till you can't take no more.

Works more than sit-ups and tones all of your stomach at the same time. But please note: you will be sore but after the first couple of times it'll get easier!

Have fun!

Answer 6

don't listen to all these people in here, they can talk about the excercises all they want, but they probably don't have first hand experience, crunches and situps are absolutely perfect and either of them is fine for what you want them for. They work for me, and I've been working out my stomach for years, I know what works, If you need any more help or advice, just email me.

Answer 7

Dont waste your money on products. Ask a yoga teacher to show you how to breathe properly, I know a lady who has a six pack just through uses Yoga breathing techniques

Answer 8

Consider Liposuction or Tummy Tuck

Answer 9

Get a bums and tums machine. Do arobics specifically designed for this area. If all fails just love yourself as you are. You are the perfect you.

Answer 10

Pilates....Pilates worked for me....the base of all the Pilates workout moves you use your tummy muscles. I say got for Pilates, it will tighten your tummy and you will ton up everywhere else in the process. It is relaxing too. Good for your flexability. Enjoy!!