4 Moves That'll Pull Your Abs In Better Than A Waist Trainer
(Photo: Mitch Mandel)
Sure, those torture devices that promise to pull in your waist à la the dark ages—aka the “waist training” corsets that celebs like Kim Kardashian have been reportedly wearing—are a little tempting. (I mean, smaller waist, zero work, c'mon.) But since all-day pain isn’t really our thing—and we want a healthy, strong core that isn’t going to turn to mush the second we unhook our undergarments—we asked trainer Larysa DiDio to create the fastest, most effective waist workout that those of us in favor of, ya know, breathing comfortably, could do instead.
This workout hits your obliques hard—those muscles on the sides of your abs that help create a curvy silhouette—and only takes 10 minutes. Sounds a whole lot better than a day full of discomfort, don’t you think? (Love this 10-minute workout? There’s more where this came from. Get your copy of the Fit in 10 DVD today!)
How to do it: Perform each exercise for the time stated, resting for 30 seconds between moves. Repeat the entire circuit twice.
1. Oblique Static Hold
(Photo: Mitch Mandel)
Start lying on one side as shown, legs extended and stacked. Raise your legs a few inches off the floor, hold for 1 to 2 seconds, and then lower them back to the floor. Continue for 20 seconds. Switch sides and repeat for another 20 seconds on the opposite side.
Expert tip: Squeeze your abs as your lift and lower your legs.
Related: Your 10-Minute Butt-Toning Routine
2. Side-to-Side Leg Drops
(Photo: Mitch Mandel)
Lie on your back with your legs extended over your hips, knees slightly bent, and arms out to your sides with palms facing down. Keeping your knees together, slowly drop your legs to one side, then return to center. Repeat on the other side. Continue alternating sides for 45 seconds.
Expert tip: Don’t let your hip lift too high off the floor.
Related: 10-Minutes To Younger, Tighter Abs
3. Oblique Side Crunches
(Photo: Mitch Mandel)
Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor, arms extended overhead. Reach your arms outside your right knee, lifting your shoulders off the floor. Return to start, then repeat the crunch on the opposite side. Continue alternating sides for 45 seconds.
Expert tip: Use your core to lift yourself off the floor.
Related: The 10-Minute Total-Body Workout You Have To Try
4. Forearm Plank Hip Dips
(Photo: Mitch Mandel)
Start in a forearm plank, elbows under your shoulders. Keeping your core tight, drop your hips to one side, then return to center. Repeat the dip on the opposite side. Continue alternating sides for 45 seconds.
Expert tip: Keep your core tight and engaged to protect your lower back.
By Jenna Bergen Southerland
This article ’4 Moves That’ll Pull Your Abs In Better Than A Waist Trainer’ originally ran on Prevention.com.
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