We're into the second month of the new year, and if you're invested in working out your trouble spots, have we got news for you: celebrity trainer Joel Harper has provided Huff/Post50 with a set of exercises designed to target the body parts post 50s want to fix the most.
Last week we showed you two exercises that are great for toning arms; this week, we go over the best ab workouts for getting rid of abdominal fat.
Vanity aside, losing a spare tire has great health benefits as well since the presence of excessive stomach fat has been linked to chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
So get in your workout gear and try these two exercises. If you do them consistently, Harper promises you will move towards having a flat stomach.
AB PRESSES
This exercise strengthens your abs and quads, Harper said.
Lie flat on your back with your head relaxed on the ground. Lift your knees up so your they are directly above your hips and let your feet dangle. Take your hands and put them on your quads. Press as hard as you can for 30 seconds, pulling your stomach down and driving your knees back towards your chest the entire time.
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Then do one leg at a time, 30 seconds each, for a total minute and a half of ab presses. Keep your face relaxed and your stomach pulled down the entire time.
BUTTERFLY LIFTS
If you're looking to strengthen your stomach, butterfly lifts are a great place to start.
While lying flat on your back, bring your hands behind your head and make an X (your hands go to the opposite shoulder). Bring the soles of your feet together, making sure they are perfectly aligned, with your knees relaxed to the sides.
Lift and lower your upper body 25 times. Keep a distance the size of a tennis ball between your chin and your chest. After you lift your upper body for 25 times, hold it up and then lift your lower body one inch 25 times. Then lift your upper and lower body simultaneously for a total of 75 butterfly lifts.
UP DOG WITH A TWIST
"Remember," Harper said, "after exercising be sure and properly stretch all the muscles you worked. This helps you feel energized and tension free." This stretch targets your abs and your obliques.
Lie on your stomach with your hands under your shoulders. Come into "up dog," pressing your hands into the mat and lifting yourself all the way up, moving your head as far as you can from your toes. Leave your shoulders down and back.
Gently look over your right shoulder at your right foot; hold this position for three deep inhales, then move your head to the center and repeat the move on your left side for three deep inhales. Bring your head back to center for three breaths.
Revisit Joel Harper's arm workouts, and stay tuned for the best workouts for your thighs, buns and hips.
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