4 Easy Exercises For A Toned Tummy
By Orla, May 1, 2014
It’s officially the first day of summer in Ireland. Of course, mother nature is greeting this news with a nice scattering of rain to bring us back down to earth, but at least now you can start to get excited about that summer holiday that is almost within your grasp
Now before you start to groan inwardly about the thoughts of working out to get that bikini bod, have a look at the following four exercises. They’re really simple and doable and you don’t have to fork out a fortune for gym membership either.
1. The Plank
This exercise is great for toning the stomach and I promise you will see a change in your muscle tone if you stick with it. Just get yourself in a press-up position and hold the position for as long as you can.
Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, so start yourself off at an easy pace. Try doing 30 second planks and gradually build your strength up. Do it daily and your abs will reap the rewards.
2. Leg Lifts
Lie yourself down on the floor with your legs straight. You can raise them either one by one or together and hold them at not exactly a 90 degree angle, but aim to have them quite raised. Hold them in this position for 30 second reps.
Be careful not to strain your back, especially if you have had back problems in the past. Your back should be flat and close the the floor.
3. Torso Twists
This is a great one for working on your whole abdominal area, not just your abs. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, put your hands on your hips and rotate your upper body as far to the right as possible, all the while keeping the lower body completely still (Imagine your feet are rooted to the ground).
Repeat this twisting your upper body to the left. Repeat this exercise 15-20 times.
4. Abdominal Chair Hold
Sit on the edge of a nice, sturdy chair and place your hands on the the edge with your fingers pointing towards your knees. Clench your tummy muscles, and bring your toes about 2 or 3 inches off the floor. Now for the tricky part; lift your bum off the chair and hold this position for 5- 10 seconds.
Try and repeat this about 6 times, or for the equivalent of 1 minute. It won’t be the easiest, but it will be worth it.
