8-Minutes to a Flatter Stomach

If you happened to miss the first edition of 8-Minute Abs, CLICK HERE so you can watch and do the exercises. For today's workout, I put together a series of exercises that will help flatten your stomach and trim your waistline. I also included a tip written onto the video so while you are doing each exercise, you have the ability to pause the video so you have a visual que during each movement. Although each exercise is for time, focus on doing the exercise with great form instead of doing as many reps as you can in the 50 seconds. The four ab exercises are: mountain climbers, side plank left hip tap, plank and side plank right hip tap.  

2 sets of each exercise with 10 seconds rest between each exercise

Mountain Climbers: 50 seconds

Side Plank Hip Taps: 50 seconds

Elbow Plank: 50 seconds

Side Plank Hip Taps: 50 seconds

Repeat. 

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How to do each exercise:

Mountain Climbers (Targets the lower abs and arms)

1. Start in a push-up position with your hands directly under your shoulders.

2. Draw a straight line from your head to your heels. 

3. Retract your shoulder blades.

4. Avoid arching / curling your back and keep your butt down. 

5. Begin the movement by drawing one knee into your chest at a time alternating between each leg.

6. Limit your movement in the upper body by squeezing your abs and stabilizing your shoulders. 

7. Continue for 50 seconds. 

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Side Plank Hip Taps (Targets the obliques and arms)

1. Start in a side plank with your elbow directly under your shoulder and feet extended. (for more balance, stagger the feet instead of stacking them on top of each other)

2. Retract your shoulders so that you draw a straight line through your shoulders to feet.

3. Begin the movement by driving your hip up through your lower oblique.

4. Return just below the starting position.  

5. Continue for 50 seconds. 

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Plank (Targets the arms and core)

1. Place your elbows directly under your shoulders. Use a mirror to check your form.

2. Relax your shoulders, allowing your body to sink into your arms.

3. Drop your hips so that you can draw a straight line from your head to your heels.

4. Pull your belly button into your stomach and squeeze the abs tighter with each breathe.

5. Continue for 50 seconds.