If you’re looking for a super sexy midsection, one that is so tight and tone that you can wear body hugging clothes with confidence, then you’re going to have to participate in core fitness training. Although most people think of their core as just their abdominals, the truth is that your core includes your lower back, hips, and buttocks as these areas are just as important to your waistline as your tummy muscles.
Plus, a strong core helps promote good posture, improves your performance, and lowers your risk of fitness inhibiting back pain – three wonderful advantages of a strong middle. So, to work all of these muscles at the same time, here are a few exercises that will help you achieve that goal:
- The plank. Lie face down on the floor and prop your upper body up on your forearms. Slowly lift your hips off the floor so that you are balancing between your forearms and your toes. Keep your back and neck straight and your tummy tucked in. Hold for 10-15 seconds and then return to the starting position. As you get stronger, add 5 seconds per plank until you can hold the position for 2-3 minutes at a time.
- The push-up. This particular core strengthening exercise has been around for ages, but that is because it delivers such great results for your midsection, as well as the rest of your body. Just as with the plank, lie on your front side and place the palms of your hands on the floor next to your shoulders. Push off from the floor until your elbows are extended fully and you are balancing between your toes and your hands, keeping your back straight as a board. Slowly lower your body to the floor and that counts as one. If this is too difficult, you can keep your knees on the floor instead of your toes as this will take some of the pressure off and make the exercise easier to handle without reducing its effectiveness.
- The Superman. Still lying face down on the floor, extend your arms straight out beyond your head and lift your feet off the floor as well, as if you are Superman and flying through the air. Alternate lifting and lowering your opposite arms and legs slowly, engaging your abdominal muscles and lower back to support your form.
These three core exercises will bring you great results when practiced regularly (preferably, every other day so they have time to heal in between exercise sessions). Get ready to tighten your belt because a tone, taut midsection is just a few planks, push-ups and Superman’s away!
