How to Get a Firm Belly
It is good to have a tight flat stomach but not as important as some people make it out to be. Everywhere you look, you see advertisements promising to help you “get a firm belly” or “get rock hard abs”. What they don’t tell you is that belly fat isn’t just ugly but a health hazard too.
Scientific studies have linked belly fat to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. To check if you are at risk, measure your waist circumference. For men, waist circumference should be below 40 inches and women below 35 inches.
Here are some proven techniques to help you get a firm belly and reduce dangerous abdominal fat:
Be Active, Eat Right
Gardening can burn several hundred calories per hour. Team sports like basketball, soccer and baseball burn even more. Swimming is a very good exercise and it’s fun to do. It burns a lot of calories as all the muscles in the body are getting engaged in the action. You don’t have to go to the gym to do exercise. You can also do some volunteer work or just take your kids or pets for walks.
You can boost your metabolism by doing cardio exercises. It only requires diligence and motivation. All you have to do is find exercises you like doing and the fat will melt away. But it is also important to vary your exercises for maximum calorie burning and just to keep off boredom.
CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER THE BEST WAY TO LOSE FAT FAST
There are a number of exercises that can get you a firm tight belly. According to the study that was done by the American Council on Exercise, leg lifts, supine bicycle and vertical leg crunches work the stomach muscles harder than any other belly fat-burning exercise. Ball crunches and twisting crunches were also among the good exercises. Belly fat is very stubborn so you want to do these exercises several times a week, roughly about 4-6 times a week is recommended. And in as little as two weeks you can begin to see the results. An internet search will bring up step by step tutorials for each exercise.
Some foods can help you get a firm belly. Carbohydrates with sugar add to belly fat building, but foods that are high in protein and fiber help make you have a flat firm belly. So look for a diet which consists mostly of high protein, complex carbs and unsaturated fats. A classic example is South Beach but there are similar diets that are on the market now.
Learn to Relax
Relaxing can also get you a firm belly. It’s very much probable when you do yoga. Yoga tackles belly fat in two ways. Firstly, it reduces high levels of stress that lead to weight gain. And weight gained from stress often ends up in excess belly fat. Just by reducing your stress levels, you can get a firm belly and also lower the risk of getting many diseases.
Yoga also tones the abdominal muscles. Scout for a yoga routine that consists of supine poses and other postures that work the abdominal muscles. Check out a yoga DVD from your local library, or look for free video tutorials online. You will be able to tell right away if a particular pose targets the stomach area. To get a firm belly faster, design your own routine using the most effective belly-busting poses.
As you have observed, it takes effort to get a firm belly but what you get in return is well worth it. Not only do you look good but you lower the risks of getting certain diseases.