So you think you can’t whittle your middle? So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley shows you how abs-olutely amazing your midsection can look with these multitasking moves. And if you want more slimming power, sign up for our freeDrop 10 plan!
Your Trainer
Tight-in-the-abs and easy-on-the-eyes Joshua Lipsey, a fitness pro from Toronto who created the tummy-honing program TransCoremation ($150; C2CoreConcepts.com). The brilliance of his belly buffers: Unlike classic crunches, which target only the rectus abdominis (running from the center of your chest to your pubic bone), these moves work the transversus abdominis (deeper muscles that wrap around your trunk) as well as the obliques along your sides. Translation: a tinier waist, a flatter middle and sexy definition—fast!
Your plan Add five ab-firming minutes a day to your workout, doing any combo of the six moves here. Or if you’re in the mood for a flat-ab-athon, try this entire lineup.
1. Swizzle Reach
WORKS TRANSVERSUS AND RECTUS ABDOMINIS
Lie faceup, hands behind head, elbows out, legs together with knees bent, shins parallel to ground. Engage abs, lifting upper body and reaching elbows to knees. Hold crunch as you straighten legs, lifting right leg high and lowering left leg to a 45-degree angle. Extend arms (as shown) and hold for 1 beat. Return to start. Repeat, reversing legs, for 1 rep. Do 10 reps.
Lie faceup, hands behind head, elbows out, legs together with knees bent, shins parallel to ground. Engage abs, lifting upper body and reaching elbows to knees. Hold crunch as you straighten legs, lifting right leg high and lowering left leg to a 45-degree angle. Extend arms (as shown) and hold for 1 beat. Return to start. Repeat, reversing legs, for 1 rep. Do 10 reps.
2. Scissor Tap
WORKS TRANSVERSUS AND RECTUS ABDOMINIS, OBLIQUES
Lie on right side, right forearm propping up upper body, left arm raised and legs splayed wide with right leg in front (as shown). Engage abs to lift torso, keeping weight on right hip, and reach right hand to tap between shins. Return to start. Scissor legs so left is in front of right, and tap again for 1 rep. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
Lie on right side, right forearm propping up upper body, left arm raised and legs splayed wide with right leg in front (as shown). Engage abs to lift torso, keeping weight on right hip, and reach right hand to tap between shins. Return to start. Scissor legs so left is in front of right, and tap again for 1 rep. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
3. Twist and Tighten
WORKS TRANSVERSUS AND RECTUS ABDOMINIS, OBLIQUES
Sit with feet planted, right hand on ground about a foot behind right hip, left hand on head, elbow out; lift hips. Hold tabletop pose as you bend torso and raise right knee to touch left elbow over midsection (as shown). Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
Sit with feet planted, right hand on ground about a foot behind right hip, left hand on head, elbow out; lift hips. Hold tabletop pose as you bend torso and raise right knee to touch left elbow over midsection (as shown). Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
4. Super Cinching Sit-Up
WORKS TRANSVERSUS AND RECTUS ABDOMINIS, OBLIQUES
Lie faceup, arms overhead on ground. Engage abs as you sit up, bending knees and twisting torso to right as you extend arms past knees (as shown). Return to start. Repeat on opposite side for 1 rep. Do 20 reps.
Lie faceup, arms overhead on ground. Engage abs as you sit up, bending knees and twisting torso to right as you extend arms past knees (as shown). Return to start. Repeat on opposite side for 1 rep. Do 20 reps.
5. Side Slim-Down
WORKS OBLIQUES
Kneel on right knee with arms overhead and leaning toward left, left leg extended out to side, foot on ground (as shown). Shift to right, placing right hand on ground to support upper body, as you raise left leg level with hip, foot flexed. Return to start. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
Kneel on right knee with arms overhead and leaning toward left, left leg extended out to side, foot on ground (as shown). Shift to right, placing right hand on ground to support upper body, as you raise left leg level with hip, foot flexed. Return to start. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
6. Beggar’s Plank
WORKS TRANSVERSUS AND RECTUS ABDOMINIS, OBLIQUES
Start in plank position on forearms, palms down, feet together. Flip right palm up as you move right forearm forward a few inches; repeat on left (as shown). Reverse movement: Move left forearm back as you flip palm down; repeat on right to return to start for 1 rep. Do 15 reps.
Head on over to Self.com to watch Lipsey walk you through each of these ab sculptors. You’re minutes away from the core you covet!
Start in plank position on forearms, palms down, feet together. Flip right palm up as you move right forearm forward a few inches; repeat on left (as shown). Reverse movement: Move left forearm back as you flip palm down; repeat on right to return to start for 1 rep. Do 15 reps.
Head on over to Self.com to watch Lipsey walk you through each of these ab sculptors. You’re minutes away from the core you covet!
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