Get a Smaller Waist!

I know last week I told you all about the side-bend exercise to get the desired "V." While this exercise is great, especially for men, I discovered I was doing too many of these exercises and actually made my waist grow larger. I am a very thin person, yet too many oblique exercises made my waist change from 26 inches to 27!  So I quickly did a google search and discovered how one can make their waist smaller! My goal is to get my waist to 25 inches right now, so I will be working right here with you!

The first exercise is considered one of the most dreaded exercises, because it is so hard! It is called "the plank." It really builds up your core and works on your Transversus Abdominis  ab muscle. This is the ab muscle under your "six-pack muscles," and it stabilizes your core.

 How do you do this "plank" exercise?

• Get into a pushup position on the floor and prop yourself up on your elbows.
• Make sure your body forms a straight line like in the picture
• Suck in your abdominals
• Hold this position as long as you can
• Don't be nervous if your muscles start shaking, this is a difficult exercise.

The next exercise I am going to share I have heard go by two different names: the vacuum and the cat vomit. 

• Get on all fours (or you may stand if you have bad knees).
• Let out your breath
• Suck in your stomach towards your belly button as far as it can go
• Hold that pose for 15-30 seconds (you may breath)
• Release
• Repeat

What does this exercise do? Well it works your inner abs, the muscle that helps you achieve that flat stomach you're working towards! I do this very same exercise, and it definitely works! I would suggest doing these exercises everyday, for if you are not using heavy weights, your abs bounce back quickly.