New Year usually represents a great opportunity to start fresh and shake up your lifestyle. Whether you want to get into a new routine or you’ve wanted to target stubborn belly fat for a while, a fitness expert has shared the best exercises for this purpose.
What’s more, you can start spotting “noticeable results” within a few weeks to a few months. Leon Bolmeer, fitness expert and director of Geezer’s Boxing, told Express.co.uk: “Not only can excess belly fat be unsightly, but it may also be harmful to our health.
“A balanced diet and focused exercise are essential for efficiently decreasing belly fat.” Therefore, the expert recommended opting for the following four exercises.
1.Planks
The fitness expert instructed to begin in a push-up position, resting on your forearms instead of your hands, while keeping your body in a straight line. “Hold this position, engaging your core muscles, for 30-60 seconds,” Bolmeer said.
2.Russian twists
To do Russian twists, you need to sit on the floor, bend your knees and ensure your heels are touching the ground. The expert continued: “Lean back slightly, keeping your back straight.
“Holding a weight or just clasping your hands together, rotate your torso from side to side, touching the floor beside you with the weight/hands.”
3.Mountain climbers
You start in a plank position, with your hands under your shoulders, and drive your knees in towards your chest.
You need to alternate your legs quickly, as if you’re running horizontally, Bolmeer instructed.
4.Bicycle crunches
To do bicycle crunches, you lie on your back, with your hands behind your head and elbows out.
Then, you need to bring your knees towards your chest and simultaneously lift your shoulders off the ground, touching your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee, pedalling like you’re riding a bicycle, the expert explained.
Once you’ve got these movements nailed, “consistency and proper form are crucial”, Bolmeer added.
He said: “Aim for three sets of 10-15 reps for each exercise, gradually increasing reps as you build strength.”
The amount of belly fat that you will reduce will depend on a number of factors, including your diet, lifestyle, and current level of fitness.
However, the expert noted that “noticeable results may be observed” within a few weeks to a few months, with commitment and consistency to these activities and a balanced diet. “It’s crucial to pay attention to general health as opposed to just drastic cosmetic improvements,” he added.