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Be stealthy to get healthy with these discreet downsizers.
Perfect posture will target your tummy as you sizzle calories.
When you’re in the carTighten and release abs repeatedly at red lights.
It’s the ab equivalent of Kegels: a little move that yields results almost without your noticing.
Then breathe without allowing your abs to relax.
Do this for 30 seconds.
Repeat five times, advises Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University.
Repeat until you’re back at your front door, says Torri Shack, a trainer in Los Angeles.
Check out your (bow) wow abs!
Exhale and allow stomach to expand.
Then inhale, pulling belly button toward spine, drawing abdomen toward the box spring.
Hold for 10 seconds.
Baffled by all the gut-busting gizmos on the market?
Try these bona fide flatteners!
Gaiam BalanceBall Chair($80;Amazon.com) Lose the La-Z-Boy.
Instead, take a seat on the Gaiam BalanceBall chair.
Enlist your abs or you’ll topple over while watching the tube or eating dinner.
Talk about mindless, but mandatory, middle management.
Core Roller($15;Power-Systems.com) This tone-up toy can make a “wheel” difference.
Grip the handles and kneel, placing the roller on the floor in front of you.
Contract abs and roll out into a modified push-up position.
Hold for five counts, then roll back to kneeling.
Repeat up to 10 times.
Squeezing the block between your thighs while in plank position helps shore up your core.
Slendertone AbdominalMuscle Toner Electrodes and pads on the belt pulse rhythmically on muscles to get to tone them.
Sure, a machine that does the work for you would be nice.
But you know you have to put in some effort.
Stepping up your sessions may release more fat-burning hormones, helping you trim faster.
Groceries that fight belly fat?
BerriesAntioxidants can improve blood flow, delivering more oxygen to muscles, so ab-revealing cardio is easier.
Chocolate skim milkA glass teams carbohydrates with protein to promote muscle building.
Drink post-workout to speed recovery.
The compound ECGC in the tea makes it easier to burn fat.
Researchers speculate this may shrink fat cells.
Carb lovers, rejoice!
Don’t make nice.
These are your ab-versaries.
BoozeFeel free to raise a glassbut only one.
We’ll toast to that!
An hour of tube time is fine, especially if it motivates you to hit the gym.
Stressing outFeeling frazzled and frantic?
To de-stress and weigh much less, learn to breathe.
Slowly inhale through your nose, counting to four.
Then exhale from your mouth for a count of eight.
That darn bread basket!Those fluffy white rolls?
They’re your flat-ab foe!
When facing a bread basket, check its contents before digging in.
If you see whole grains, go for itin fact, feel free to enjoy 3 ounces a day.
(One slice of whole-wheat bread or 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice are each 1 ounce.)
Declare “last call” two hours before bed.
If not, sip tea, cut the lights and bid farewell to the fridge until morning
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Photo Credit: Michael Dwornik
