Advertisement
Fitness

Four easy exercises for a tight tummy

Here’s your ticket to flat abs: Ditch crunches with this posture-enhancing core routine — guaranteed to tone your midsection fast!
By Alanna Glassman
Four easy exercises for a tight tummy

Photo, Roberto Caruso. Clothing, nike. Hair & makeup, Aniya Nandy for Plutinogroup.com.

10 Minute Workout | March 2014

The plan

Do our four moves three times a week to see more definition in a month or less. For fast results, add 20 minutes of cardio.

You need: Hand weights.

Consulting trainer: Dagmar Storek

10-Minute-Workout-Girl-in-White-Exercise-clothes-flexingPhoto, Roberto Caruso. Clothing, nike. Hair & makeup, Aniya Nandy for Plutinogroup.com.

1. V hops

Start in a crouching position with hands on floor in front of you, knees tucked in. Quickly jump both legs out behind you to make a V shape. Now, immediately bring them back into starting crouch. Do 12 reps as quickly as you can.

Advertisement

Perfect your form: land softly on feet and engage abs to protect spine.

Dial it down: Elevate hands on a chair or bench. 

Amp it up: Add a push-up in between hops.

V-Hops-10-Min-WorkoutPhoto, Roberto Caruso. Hair & makeup, Chantal Hubens, Tresemmé hair care & M.A.C. Cosmetics/Judyinc.com.

2. Squat and reach

Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms bent, with weights at shoulder level. Lower into a squat. As you press into heels to come up, reach arms (palms together) on a diagonal away from you. Hold for 1 count, squat again and repeat on opposite side. Do 12 reps.

Perfect your form: Keep weight in heels as you squat.

Dial it down: Ditch the weights.

Amp it up: Increase the weight and do 20 reps in total.

Squat-and-Reach-10-Min-WorkoutPhoto, Roberto Caruso. Hair & makeup, Chantal Hubens, Tresemmé hair care & M.A.C. Cosmetics/Judyinc.com.

3. Hovering toe touch

Sit with knees bent, hands slightly behind hips. Press into hands and heels to lift your body so that your butt hovers a few inches off the floor. Slowly lift right hand and left foot up and touch raised knee. Repeat on opposite side. Do 12 reps.

Perfect your form: Slow it down to improve balance.

Dial it down: Reduce reps.

Amp it up: As you bring leg up, straighten it and reach out for toe. Hold for 3 counts.

Advertisement
Hovering-Toe-Touch-10-Min-WorkoutPhoto, Roberto Caruso. Hair & makeup, Chantal Hubens, Tresemmé hair care & M.A.C. Cosmetics/Judyinc.com.

4. Rapid-fire twists

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, grasping 1 end of the weight in each hand. Twist your torso to rest weight on right hip, then immediately bring weight up to left shoulder. Move weight between points for 10 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.

Perfect your form: Move from your torso, not your arms. Keep a slight bend in arms.

Dial it down: Ditch the weight.

Amp it up: Increase the weight, and for an added challenge try standing on 1 leg.

Advertisement

For more 10-minute workouts click here.

Rapid-Fire-Twists-10-Min-WorkoutPhoto, Roberto Caruso. Hair & makeup, Chantal Hubens, Tresemmé hair care & M.A.C. Cosmetics/Judyinc.com.

GET CHATELAINE IN YOUR INBOX!

Subscribe to our newsletters for our very best stories, recipes, style and shopping tips, horoscopes and special offers.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement