Seen on everyone from Hollywood A-listers to Mum’s working out in a gym in Birmingham, a flat stomach is something that, in terms of fitness and their own bodies, most men and women aspire to around the world.

Making you look fit and healthy, it also acts as a massive boost in confidence during the summer months, when you can wear a bikini or walk around in just a pair of shorts without having to worry about any extra weight being carried around your stomach.

Unfortunately, the stomach area is one of the places on the body where excess fat accumulates most and therefore getting a flat stomach is often more difficult than, for example, toned arms or legs.

However, it’s important to remember that it’s not impossible, regardless of your size and it’s simply a matter of methodically working through a dieting and weight loss programme for several weeks.

One of the most common mistakes that people make when attempting to get a flat stomach is to just start doing hundreds of sit ups each night. Whilst there’s no doubt that sit ups help with getting a flat stomach and more notably a six pack, it is an exercise that strengthens muscles and isn’t an exercise that helps lose weight.

Therefore, if you’re carrying excess weight around your stomach, no matter how many sit ups you do, you won’t be able to see your toned stomach until you get rid of the excess fat.

As this is apparent, it’s important that you start with cardiovascular exercise, such as running or swimming. Remember, you want to be losing weight, not building muscle to start with.

Carrying out these exercises alongside eating a balanced diet, with only minimal luxury foods such as chocolate or alcohol, after a few weeks you’ll notice a distinct drop in your waist measurement and once you’ve got your prescription cialis generic stomach and hips to look relatively flat, it’s time to start focusing on toning the area.

As mentioned, sit ups are a great way to strengthen and develop the muscles in your stomach, so start with these. However, don’t just simply do one substantial set of sit ups, as this is likely to cause more pain than do any good. Instead, divide your sit ups into comfortable repetitions, such as 20 or 30. This will have exactly the same effect as doing a lot in one go, but it will ensure that you don’t give yourself an injury.

In addition to normal sit ups, it will be worthwhile doing some elevated versions. Laying in the same position you would for a standard sit up, rather than have your feet on the floor, lift them up so that your leg from your knee downwards is parallel with your back and then carry out the sit up as normal.

One last exercise to try is the stomach twist. Stood up and facing forward, lift your arms up and cross them on your chest, as if you were propping yourself up on the side of a swimming pool. Then simply turn to the side from your waist upwards for 5 seconds and do the same for the other side, in however many repetitions you feel comfortable doing.

Getting a flat stomach is something that whilst not easy, is very much achievable and simply requires your time and dedication to do so.

Author Bio: For more information about gym accessories, visit the Fitness First, web shop.

Category: Fitness
Keywords: gym, health clubs, fitness