Most people find it difficult to lose stomach weight or keep this part of their body flat. Belly fat is very common today with the abundance of calorie-rich foods on the market, making it even more important for people to perform exercises to keep the weight off.

Tone Stomach – Diet Tips

Exercises to tone stomach will not be as effective without proper weight loss diet, because they only push the fat even farther instead of shedding it. Following simple diet pointers can help stave off the extra stomach weight without inducing hunger. Breakfast should never be skipped but it should comprise of protein-rich foods instead of fried meals and those with empty calories. People working to tone stomach muscles should also avoid eating late at night or eating before going to bed, because the food will not be properly digested. As always, water is an imperative part of every healthy diet.

Tone Abs – Abdominal Exercises

Partial sit-ups target primarily the upper abs. It is done by lying flat with the back on the floor and the knees bent. As the hands are crossed over the chest, the torso should be raised up to about 30 degrees while exhaling, and then lowered back to the original lying position while inhaling air. Another way to tone abs, particularly the lower abdominal muscles, is to raise the legs from a straightened position and exhale until they are perpendicular to the floor, before lowering them back an inch off the floor while inhaling. The combination of lying leg raise and crunches targets both the upper and lower abs. In the same starting position on the floor, the lower abdominals are flexed by raising the legs, shoulders and torso as far as possible from the ground without lifting the back from the floor. It ends by lowering the legs to the original position while breathing in. These practices to tone abs should be done with full control throughout the exercise.

Stomach Flattening – Other Exercises

There are other ways to flatten the stomach besides abdominal exercises. Some stomach flattening moves, such as the chair leg lift, can be done in office or desk chairs. To do this, the back should be rested flat against the back of the chair while the hands are either on the desk or the seat of the chair. As one breathes out, the knees should be brought up to the chest for five seconds, before they are lowered back to the floor as one breathes in. Pelvic thrusts, meanwhile, are done lying down with knees bent and arms stretched out. The pelvis should then be slowly lifted and tilted as one exhales, with the lower back still on the floor. The position should be held for five seconds and repeated for 10 to 15 times.