3 Steps to Bikini-Ready Abs

It’s summertime in the south, which means that it’s time to break out your bikini. If your abs could use a little boot camp before the big reveal, try these three moves that are sure to tone and tighten your core muscles (work your way up to three sets of 15 reps of each of these exercises):

Medicine Ball Twists. Sit with your legs bent (heels dug into the floor), your chest lifted, and back straight. Your upper body should be at a 45-degree angle. Holding a medicine ball twist side to side, reaching toward your hip bone. The further you lean back the better, but always keep that back straight. If you don’t have a medicine ball, no problem — try a gallon-size jug of water. Take this exercise up a notch by lifting one foot up at a time and eventually both feet while twisting.

Sit-Ups. Yes, a good old fashioned sit-up is still one of the best ways to work those abs. Again, sitting with your legs bent, feet on the floor, lie down on the floor with your arms crossed across your chest. Bring your body up, eventually sitting up (with legs still bent and feet on the floor). Then, curl your body back down so that your back is flat on the ground. Be sure that you are focusing on tightening your abdominal muscles as you move through the entire sit-up.

Side Plank Dips. Lie on your side, with your legs stacked on top of each other and your right elbow bent at a 90-degree angle directly beneath your side. (Your body should form a straight line accept for your right arm, which is a 90-degree angle.) Pick your hips up, so that your body runs at a diagonal from the floor. Then, let your right hip drop and bring it back up. The goal is to let it lightly touch the floor before bringing it back up into alignment with the rest of your body. After completing your reps on one side, role onto the other (so that your left arm will be bent to support your body). Do three sets on each side.

Need a fun way to tone up your body for summer? Come try our Brookhaven Group Fitness Class!

Keep on Thriving!
—Lloyd

May 05, 2010 | Diet & Nutrition, Excersize Tips, Lloyd's Blog, Thriveology | Leave A Comment »