Though women all over the world have been struggling to lose belly fat for decades, it is still one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to getting in shape. And even if you have already gotten yourself together and found the perfect training program, suddenly chocolate starts looking irresistible or your best friend brings you a cupcake for no reason…

Bright Side knows how challenging it might be to find time for yourself in this fast-paced world, so we came up with some exercises that do not require any special equipment or years of practice. And it takes only about 5 minutes to complete each of them!

Have you woken up today to see a little extra layer of belly fats that you need to lose quickly via exercise? The festive season has been on for weeks now, and undoubtedly we have all indulged in our favourite foods, be it sweets or savoriness, promising ourselves that we’ll hit the gym soon! The ‘soon’ takes a long time to arrive, or doesn’t arrive at all. Has it arrived for you yet? Think about it! Do you want to fit into that gorgeous dress you spent all your savings on for new year’s? Then now is the time to be serious and start doing some exercises to reduce belly fat!

It’s not just about the way you look, it is also about being healthy. Undoubtedly you need a little bit of a lifestyle change to lose the flab around your tummy, and incorporating the precise exercises to tackle it is a necessary step. We show you the exact exercises that you need to rotate in your routine. Work towards a healthier and fitter you! Get serious, and start exercising to lose belly fat!

A flat belly is a badge of honour. It’s an outward sign that you keep fit and watch what you eat. And beyond the vanity aspects, a more chiseled torso makes you stronger and less prone to injury.

That’s because the dozens of muscles between your shoulders and hips are involved in every movement you do.

To create a lean, rock-hard waist you need to start with the right moves, says former Men’s Health Fitness Director BJ Gaddour.

How to do crunches?

You have to lie down flat on the ground (you can lie down on a yoga mat or any other mat). Bend your knees with your feet flat on the ground. Your feet need to be hip-width apart. You then have to lift your hands and take them behind your head, with your head on your palms or your thumbs behind your ears. Don’t interlock your fingers. Now, inhale deeply in this position. Slowly lift your upper torso off the floor, exhaling at the time. Lift your torso as much as you can without changing the position of any other body part, and then go back to the lying position, inhaling when going back down. You can exhale when you lift your torso again. Try to maintain a three-inch distance between your chest and chin so you don’t strain your neck. The focus should be on the belly, not merely the lift.

Beginners should try to do 10 crunches per set, and do at least two or three sets in a day.

What to avoid: Crunching too high. Focus instead on bringing your ribs to your belly button, that way you will lift up your torso only by a few inches. Try the best you can, and then go back down again. This will target the fat around the stomach.

How to do the twist crunch?

You have to lie on your back on a hard surface (mat on the floor) and bend your legs with your feet flat on the ground. The position of your hands is similar to the crunches, under your head. Now comes the difference, instead of lifting your torso, lift your right shoulder towards your left, limiting the movement of the left shoulder. Repeat the action on the opposite side—lifting your left shoulder over your right. This is one complete round. Again, for beginners, a total of 10 crunches per set is effective, and try to accomplish at least two to three sets.

What to avoid: Don’t hold your breath. If you exhale on your way up, you will automatically inhale on your way down. You have to ensure that you don’t deprive your body of oxygen and you pace your breath.

1: Running or walking
Okay, you’re probably thinking, ‘How does moving your legs shrink those love handles?’ Well, the truth is there’s no way to target belly fat. Your genetics get to decide where the fat settles in your body, so the best thing to do is start moving.
As you exercise, calories are burned and your body fat percentage decreases. So, exercising not only helps you lose belly fat, it also sheds fat from other areas. Running and walking are two of the best fat-burning exercises. Plus, the only equipment you need is a good pair of shoes. Between the two, running burns more calories, but walking really isn’t too far behind.

Running and walking can be part of your interval training routine and do not forget to warm up and cool down if your take up running for weight loss.

2: Elliptical trainer
Some of us no longer have the strong joints we had as teenagers. Jogging is out of the question and walking doesn’t cut it. The good news is elliptical trainers provide an intense, low impact cardio workout. In fact, a 145-lb. person can burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes on an elliptical trainer. That’s about as many calories as running burns, but without the joint wear-and-tear.

3: Bicycling
Bicycling is another great low impact cardio exercise. Not to mention, it’s a great way to travel or see the countryside. Depending on the speed and intensity the average person can burn between 250 to 500 calories during a 30-minute bike ride.

4: The bicycle exercise
Burning body and belly fat with cardio exercises is half the battle. Next is strengthening abdominal muscles so you have something to show once the fat is shed. In a recent study, ab exercises were ranked from best to worst. The bicycle exercise ranked as #1 because it requires abdominal stabilization, body rotation, and more abdominal muscle activity.

These are some bicycle exercises you can do before you hop on your bike:
-Lie on your back with hands behind your head
-Raise knees to your chest while lifting head and shoulders off the ground
-Bring the right elbow to your left knee and straighten the right leg
-Switch sides – bring the left elbow to your right knee and straighten the left leg
-Continue switching sides to simulate a pedaling motion
-Breathing should be relaxed and even
-Do 1-3 sets with 12-16 repetitions
5: The Captain’s chair leg raise
For this exercise you require a captain’s chair which is found in most gyms. The chair has a padded back and armrests with grips. Your legs hang free.
-Stand on the chair and grab the hand bars
-Keep your back flat against the pad while raising knees to your chest
-Then lower legs back down
-For added intensity, keep legs straight when you raise them
-Do 1-3 sets with 12-16 repetitions
6: Exercise ball crunch
This exercise needs a lot of stabilization which engages more muscles. You’ll need an exercise ball.
-Lie on the ball so your lower back is supported and feet are firmly planted on the ground
-Place hands across chest or behind the head
-Contract abs and lift your torso up and forward
-Lower back down
-Keep the ball stable during each crunch
-Exhale when you crunch; inhale when you lower back down
-Do 1-3 sets with 12-16 repetitions
#7: Vertical leg crunch
The vertical leg crunch is similar to a regular crunch. But it requires you to keep your legs straight, which makes the abs work harder and increases the workout’s intensity.
-Lie down with hands behind your head
-Put your legs straight up with knees crossed
-Flex abs to lift head and shoulders off the floor
-Lay back down
-Keep legs extended in the air the whole time
-Exhale when you flex; inhale when you lay back down
-Do 1-3 sets with 12-16 repetitions
8: Reverse crunch
The reverse crunch was also ranked above regular crunches as the 5th best exercise for strengthening core muscles.
-Lie flat on the floor with arms at your sides
-Cross your feet and lift them off the floor so your knees create a 90-degree angle
-Contract ab muscles and lift head and shoulders off the ground
-Exhale when you contract; inhale when you lower back down
-Do 1-3 sets with 12-16 repetitions
Getting toned abs just got easy
Successfully flattening your stomach is a matter of burning body fat and building muscle. The best way to burn body fat is through cardio exercises such as running, walking, elliptical training, and bicycling. With these exercises, burning stomach fat, shedding love handles, and building a six pack is completely do-able. So send your body the memo: flat abs are in style and it’s time to get yours!

Best Exercises For Reducing Belly Fat At Home And Expert Tips

Belly fat is the most unhealthy, stubborn fat. The AARP warns that people with belly fat are at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers . That is why you must change your lifestyle and start exercising. Listed below are a few things you can start doing to reduce and manage belly fat.

15 Best Exercises To Get A Flat Belly

*Warm up for 10 minutes before starting these exercises. After your muscles are warmed up, take a 10-second break and start with the following exercises:

1. Lying Leg Raises

How To Do

1. Lie down on a mat. Place your thumbs under your hips, palms flat on the floor. Lift your feet off the floor a little, look up at the ceiling, and engage your core. This is the starting position.
2. Raise both your legs to 90 degrees and slowly bring them back down.
3. Right before touching the floor, raise your legs again. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

2. Leg In And Out

1. Sit on a mat. Place your hands behind you, with the palms flat on the mat. Lift your legs off the floor and lean back a little. This is the starting position.
2. Tuck both your legs in. Simultaneously, bring your upper body close to your knees.
3. Go back to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 20 reps.

3. Scissor Kicks

1. Lie down on a mat. Place your palms under your hips.
2. Lift your head, upper back, and legs off the floor. This is the starting position.
3. Lower your left leg. Just before it touches the floor, lift your left leg and lower your right leg.
4. Do this 12 times to complete one set. Do 3 sets of 12 reps. Take a 20-second break before moving on to the next exercise

4. Crunches

1. Lie down on a mat, flex your knees, and place your feet on the floor.
2. Place a thumb at the back of each ear. Hold the back of your head with the rest of the fingers. Lift your head off the floor. This is the starting position.
3. Initiate the movement by curling up and trying to reach your knees with your head.
4. Go back to the starting position.
5. Make sure you inhale while curling up and exhale while going down. Do 2 sets of 12 reps.

What Not To Do – Do not tuck your chin in.

5. Bicycle Crunches

1. Lie down on a mat, flex your knees, and lift your feet off the floor.
2. Place a thumb at the back of each ear. Hold the back of your head with the rest of the fingers. Lift your head off the floor. This is the starting position.
3. Push your left leg down and extend it straight. Simultaneously, curl up and twist to your right. Try to touch your left elbow with your right knee.
4. Curl back down and bring your left leg back to the flexed position.
5. Do the same with the other leg. Do 2 sets of 12 reps. Take a 10-second break before doing the next exercise.

6. Half Seated Reverse Crunch

1. Sit on a mat, flex your knees, and place your feet flat on the floor. Lean back and support your body on your elbows. This is the starting position.
2. Lift both your legs off the floor and bring your knees almost close to your nose.
3. Slowly, bring your legs down to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

7. Sit-ups

1. Lie on a mat, flex your knees, and place your heels on the mat. Engage your core and place your hands at the back of your head. Lift your head and shoulders off the floor and look at the ceiling. This is the starting position.
2. Use your core strength to lift your body off the floor and come to a sitting position.
3. Go back down to the starting position slowly. Do 2 sets of 12 reps.

8. Heel Touch

1. Lie down on a mat. Kee your legs flexed, feet wider than shoulder-width apart, and flat. Keep your hands by your side, chin up, shoulders relaxed, and core engaged.
2. Bend sideways and try to touch your right heel with your right hand.
3. Bend toward the other side and try to touch your left heel with your left hand.
4. Do 20 of these to finish one set. Do 3 sets of 20 reps. Take a 20-second break before moving on to the next exercise.

9. Jackknife Crunch

1. Lie down on a mat. Extend your hands over your head. This is the starting position.
2. Keeping your back and neck in the same line, lift your upper body. Simultaneously, lift both your feet off the floor.
3. Try touching your knees with your hands.
4. Get back to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 12 reps.

What Not To Do – Do not rest your head on the floor completely between repetitions.

10. Russian Twist

1. Sit on the mat, lift both your legs, keep your knees flexed, and lean back a little. Join your palms to balance your body. This is the starting position.
2. Twist your upper body to the left and then to the right.

11. Lying Alternate Toe Taps

1. Lie on the mat and lift both your legs. Extend your hand up, lift your head and upper back off the floor, and engage your core. This is the starting position.
2. Curl up and try to touch your left foot with your right hand.
3. Curl back down.
4. Curl up again and try to touch your right foot with your left hand. Do 2 sets of 15 reps.

12. Cross-body Mountain Climbers

1. Get into a plank position. Make sure your elbows are directly below your shoulders. Keep your neck, back, and hips in a straight line. Do not pike up and curve down. This is the starting position.
2. Lift your right foot off the floor, flex your knee and bring it close to the right side of your chest.
3. Place the right foot back to its starting position. Now, lift your left foot off the floor, flex your knee and bring it close to the left side of your chest.
4. Speed up and do it as if you are running! Do 2 sets of 25 reps. Take a 20-second break before doing the next exercise.

13. Bur-pees

1. Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Bend your knees and place your hands on the floor. Let’s call this the “frog” position for clarity.
3. Jump and push both your legs back and get into a plank or push-up position.
4. Hop and get back to the “frog” position.
5. Jump vertically and extend your hands above your head.
6. Land softly on the floor.
7. Get into the frog position again, then go back to the plank position. Do 3 sets of 8 reps. Take a 10-second break between the sets. Also, take a 20-second break before moving on to the next exercise.

14. Plank

How To Do

1. Kneel down on a mat.
2. Place your elbows on the mat.
3. Extend your right leg back, then your left leg.
4. Keep your neck, back, and hips in the same line. Keep your core engaged.
5. Hold this pose for at least 30 seconds. Do 3 sets of 30-60 seconds hold.

15. Side Plank

1. Get into a side half-lying pose on your right. Place your left foot across the right foot and on the floor.
2. Place your elbow right below your shoulder and your left hand on your waist.
3. Lift your pelvis off the floor. Your back should be in line with your neck and head.
4. To make this a little tough, open your left hand wide.
5. Hold this pose for 30-60 seconds. Keep breathing.
6. Lower your body. Take a 10-second break, change sides, and do the same on the other side. One set of this exercise is enough for beginners. You may increase the time and sets as you progress.