WAYS TO LOOSE ABDOMINAL FLABS
Whether you are slim or need to lose weight, chances are you have abdominal fat
at the sides you would do anything to get rid of!
One of the most common issues men and women have with their bodies are love
handles, the annoying bit of fat that hangs out from the sides of our abdomen,
over the waistband of our jeans or skirts. Love handles are common not just in
those who are a little overweight, but even in relatively slim people with
bodies that are not completely toned. Here’s how you can get rid of them:
Side bends
Stand up and spread your legs so they are a little more than shoulder width
distance. Bend sideways to the left, reaching for your left calf with your left
hand. After you have bent as far to the left as possible, bring your right hand
over your head, stretching it to the left. This will give you a further stretch
in your sides. It is not necessary to use weights. Remember that you want the
fat in this are to disappear without bulking up the muscles. Repeat 15 times on
each side. Do 4 sets.
Side crunches
All of us are (or should be!) familiar with stomach crunches. Lie down with feet
shoulder-width apart, hands below the head. When you get up, twist to the left
bringing your right elbow in front and drawing in the left knee so they meet.
Start by repeating this exercise 15 times, and move up to 30-45 repetitions. Do
4 sets.
Twist
Sit on a stool holding a long rod. You could use a broomstick. Place the stick
on your shoulders behind your neck, supporting it with your arms. Twist from
side to side. This exercise also works out your obliques (side stomach muscles),
tightening them over a period of time.
Cardio
Remember that all these exercises work best when supplemented by cardiovascular
activity. Brisk walking 5-6 times a week, or jogging 3-4 times a week, for half
an hour, should be enough to burn off some fat, get your heart going and pump up
circulation.
Diet
Make it a point to avoid eating carbohydrates (pastries, brown bread etc.) at
night. You can pile on the carbs during the day, for breakfast and for lunch,
but not for dinner. This is because when you have carbs in the morning, your
body has enough time to work it off during the day. But when you have it for
dinner and go off to sleep, your body will need to convert excess carbs into
body fat, so it can store it.
Aerobics
Dance away the flab. You don't need to join dance classes to be able to do this.
Simply turn on the music in your bedroom, and start moving. Not only will your
sense of rhythm improve but as you start getting into the groove, your dancing
will improve as well so if you ever thought of yourself as a terrible dancer,
this is a good way to get better. Dancing in front of a mirror will help you
incorporate more steps into your routine and you will also get an idea of how
you dance. It is amazing how many people have never really seen themselves dance
in front of a mirror, which is why they don’t really know what looks absurd and
what looks good. All you really need is forty minutes a day, three or four times
a week, to get a good cardio workout and burn calories. So if you ever wanted an
excuse to listen to your favorite music without it seeming to be a waste of
time, you've got it.
Dancing as a workout also helps you keep in touch with what's new in the music
world, and if you love music, what better way to exercise.
Tricking Mother Nature
If you wear something too tight around the hips, the soft flesh above is bound
to stick out from the sides. But if you wear something a little looser, the
flesh will just slip into it giving you a flawless line on the sides, thus
effectively eliminating the love handles! However, this is easier said than done
because if your jeans or trousers are a little loose from the sides to hide love
handles, they are likely to be a little loose all over, which may not be what
you want. This would be easier with skirts.
Your best bet to looking would be to be regular with your cardio workout and
side stretches.
Patience Umoh
[email protected]
Questions and comments are welcome