The 6 Best Exercises To Promote A Firm Belly
Having a firm belly is a common objective among men and women. The obsession with a flat, firm belly is apparent in the number of commercial products that claim to lose belly fat. From weight loss pills to supplements, diets to DVDs, whittling the waist is a prevalent goal and one that Americans are willing to spend thousands of money on. While there are products that claim to lose stubborn belly fat in days, there are also some that promote exercise as the best way to lose abdominal fat. But whether the solution lies in a dietary supplement or in targeted workouts, there is a need to understand belly fat and the ways to deal with it.
First of all, what is belly fat?
Belly fat, also referred to as visceral fat, is regarded as the most harmful form of fat in the body. The reason is that it has been associated with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, and to certain types of cancer. Researchers at Harvard have found that visceral fat produces molecules that increase insulin resistance. As the volume of visceral fat increases, the levels of these harmful molecules also surges. Additionally, visceral fat has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Due to this, experts recommend people to monitor their waistlines and keep visceral fat at bay. One way to reduce chances of developing too much of this harmful body fat is through targeted exercises.
Exercises that reduce body fat
Exercise programs
There are popular programs that work core muscles, such as Pilates. Pilates is a physical fitness system that builds flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in different parts of the body including the abdominals. Many fitness experts recommend Pilates to trim the tummy fat. When done correctly, Pilates improves the abdominal muscle layer, the side abdominals and the deepest abdominal muscle. Experts recommend performing Pilates three times a week, every other day.
Functional exercises
Functional exercises are designed to train the abdominal muscles in the way they work. The main purpose of the abdominal muscle is to provide stability to the spine. Some experts suggest resisting movement rather than creating it. Many popular functional exercises involve using a stability ball while working the abdominal muscles.
Extension exercises
This type of exercise refers to exercises in which the spine is curved backwards, which temporarily reduces pressure on the vertebral body. Extension exercises are often used to build strength in the back to improve core strength. But they can also be used to tighten up abdominal muscles.
Stabilizing exercises
These include workouts that involve ¬¬working core muscles to develop better posture and stabilization. These can also be incorporated in a routine that targets the abdominal muscles. The basic idea is to train the muscles to build a strong core.
Traditional exercises
Different conventional exercises can also be used to tighten the abdominals. Crunches are among these common ab toning exercises, which when performed properly give muscles the six-pack appearance. There are three ways of doing crunches: basic, reverse and bicycle crunches.
Cycling
Cycling is one of the most recommended ways to obtain a firm belly. While it improves a host of muscles in other parts of the body, it is also excellent in toning up abdominal muscles, both internal and external layers. Cycling involves the use of the abdominals for stabilization as part of the movement. The muscles contract isometrically to provide stability. With constant contractions, the abdominal muscles become increasingly toned.
Regular carrying out of these exercises can subsequently develop the abdominal muscles and make them well-toned and firm. To help the body cope with the rigors involved in implementing the abovementioned exercises, experts advise taking an effective weight loss aid like Green Coffee Bean Extract on top of a balanced diet. When all these are combined, achieving a to-die-for abs becomes a worthwhile endeavor.