Five Tips to a Flatter Tummy & Tighter Abs

Summer is in full swing and if you're still chasing that elusive flat midsection you might want to check this out.

Getting a flat midsection or good abs really boils down to two things: 1) Getting rid of the fatty layer that is covering your abdominal muscles; and 2) Tightening and toning your abdominal muscles. 

Consider the following five "Tight Abs Tips" your Fast-Track ticket to getting a flat, attractive midsection this year. ​

Tight Abs Tip #1: ​

Perform challenging strength training abdominal exercises at least three times each week. Your abs are like any other muscle in your body—they need to be consistently challenged in order to become stronger and tighter.  Skip the crunches and try these ab exercises instead.

TIGHT ABS TIP #2: ​

Stop eating junk. Processed foods, refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup do NOT belong in your diet especially if you want tight abs. Cutting these items from your diet will allow your body to maintain stable blood sugar levels, alleviating your body's need to store excess sugar away in fat cells. 

The fat stores created by excess sugar intake most often accumulate around your waist, covering up your abdominal muscles. Cut these items from your diet and replace them with real whole foods such as lean meats, vegetables, nuts and fruits. ​

Purge your house of junk food and go "fitness shopping" instead.

TIGHT ABS TIP #3: ​

Stop doing long and slow cardio workouts. Instead, use HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for your cardio workouts. HIIT training uses intense bursts of exercise. This is a sure-fire way to rev up your metabolism and to get your fat stores to shrink. ​A word of caution though, if you're going to perform HIIT workouts, make sure you're ready for it. You might want to start with one day a week or seek the advice of a professional.

TIGHT ABS TIP #4: ​

Don't be fooled. The market is flooded with 'six pack' products and products that claim to flatten your stomach. Never waste your time or money on:

1. So-called packaged health food that comes with weight loss claims. If it's processed in a package with a bunch of chemical additives then it will not help you achieve flat abs.
2. Abdominal exercise gimmicks as sold on late night infomercials – all you really need is your own body weight, an exercise ball and dumbbells or a medicine ball.
3. So-called weight loss supplements. The magic pill for flat abs doesn't exist, so you'd be wasting your health and money on a bogus product.

TIGHT ABS TIP #5: ​

Target your lower abs. It's easy to neglect the lower abs, but they are an important part of the equation. Incorporate the V-Up into your exercise routine: 
​
To perform a v-up, lie down on your back on the floor and extend your arms behind your head. The back of your hands should lightly touch the floor while your palms face the ceiling. Keep your feet close together and point your toes toward the ceiling. Lift your legs up, keeping them straight at the same time that you raise your upper body off the floor and reach for your toes. Exhale and squeeze your abdominal muscles as you reach for your toes before slowly lowering yourself back down to the starting position. 

The Bottom Line

​The bottom line is this: eat healthy and challenge your core often. Don't limit your abdominal exercise to the gym, incorporate core strengthening during daily life and throughout each workout. A strong core is the foundation for flat, tight abs. 

Incorporating these strategies will help you shed the fat and tighten your abs. 

But, keep in mind that your results will be seriously hindered if you do the same exercise routine over and over. Your abs need a progressive challenge in order to transform. This means new exercises, different resistance and increased challenge. 

Call or email today to get started on a program that will challenge you, motivate you and transform your body. 

I only take on a small number of coaching clients so keep in mind, availability is limited -- act now and achieve a slimmer you once and for all this year.

​If you've enjoyed this article, please be sure to forward it to a friend!​

Yours in good health,
​
Coach George
Online Certified Trainer
Body Transformation Coach
ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer
Precision Nutrition Certified Nutritionist