How to Flatten Your Tummy

by Rachel Keller

The best way to flatten that tummy is through the combination of diet and exercise. Exercise will firm the abdominal muscles and diet will help you lose the extra weight and flab. You can exercise your abdominal muscles all you want, but without losing weight, you won't get that flat tummy.

These easy exercises are great for anyone who wants to flatten the tummy. You may want to begin with the head lifts, and after doing 10 lifts comfortably at a time, proceed to the shoulder lifts, and then eventually the curl-ups. The abdominal crunch is the most advance.

Head Lifts
Lie on your back with your arms at your side. Bend your knees and keep your feet are flat on the floor. Inhale and relax your abdomen. Exhale slowly as you lift your head. Inhale as you lower your head.

Shoulder Lifts
Use the same procedure as the head lifts, only lift both your head and shoulders off the floor. When you are comfortable with this, progress to the curl-ups.

Curl-ups
Use the same procedure as with the shoulder lifts. This time reach your arms as you slowly raise your torso to about a 45 degree angle (halfway between your knees and the floor ). If you prefer you can cross your arms on your chest with your hands on your shoulder or you can place your palms on your ears or behind your head. To prevent injury, never pull forward on your neck. Do up to 25 repetitions.

Abdominal Crunch
These are excellent for strengthening the abdominal muscles and reducing a protruding stomach. Lie on the floor. Hold your legs at a 90-degree angle with your lower legs parallel to the floor. (You can also place your legs over a bench or a piece of furniture.) With arms at your side (or on shoulders or behind ears as in the curl-ups), inhale slowly as you raise your shoulder off the floor, forcing your chest muscles toward your legs. Pull your hips upward, hold for a second, then exhale slowly and roll down to the starting position. Do up to twenty-five repetitions.

©Rachel Keller - All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission

About the author: The mother of three young sons, Rachel Keller enjoys running, cycling, aerobics, strength training, and flexibility exercises. She races regularly, placing in her age group in nearly all her races. She has both a bachelor of science and a master's degree in education and has been published numerous times. For more of Rachel's work, please visit her sites Rachel's Writings and Kozy Kitchen Korner.

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