Best Exercises to Flatten Your Stomach

A healthy diet is one of the key ingredients for a perfect summer bod. Still, as you may already know, it is not enough to eat proper food to have killer abs, and perfectly toned arms and legs!

Regular exercise comes into play at this point. And since a prominent belly is usually 'the last standing enemy' on your way to have the body you dream of, you should definitely try some of the best exercises to flatten your stomach!

The Plank

The plank is one of the most effective exercises for stomach, especially because of its many different variants. You may opt among, or perform alternatively, the regular plank, the elbow plank, and the side plank.

The regular plank is an amazing exercise for stomach, but it also tones your thighs, bum and arms. Here's what you have to do. Place yourself into plank position - with your legs stretched back and your bum up, like you're about to do push-ups.

Make sure your whole body is straight, then tighten your butt and leg muscles, and your abs, while pressing your arms into the ground. Hold for as long as you can, but at least for 1-2 minutes.

When it comes to the elbow plank, you may resume the previously described position, only that this time you will lean on your elbows. Tighten your muscles and hold for at least 1 minute.

Last but not least, the side plank involves leaning on one arm, alternatively, while in plank position. The correct position has the weight of your body pressing on the foot below. Move your torso up and down as much as you can, and keep your free arm pointing to the ceiling. Hold for 1 minute, then repeat after a short break.

The Crunch

You may hate crunches, but they're highly effective exercises to flatten stomach! Here's what you could do to sweeten this exercise for stomach a little bit.

Lie on your back on a mat, bend your knees, while keeping your feet flat on the ground. Then lift your chest as close as you can to the knees. Repeat as many times as you can, but don't overdo it on the first try.

The Boat

When it comes to lower stomach exercises, the boat is one of the best! To do it, sit on a mat with your knees bent, and your feet flat on the ground. Lift your legs and chest until you form a V, stretch your arms forward, while tightening your abs. Hold for approximately 30 seconds. Repeat as many times as you can.

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Best Fitness Ball Exercises

Fitness fads come and go, but every now and then, a trend comes along that actually makes sense. Read one about the fitness ball and core strength workouts.

Probably the most favored tool for core strength workouts is the exercise ball (also known as stability ball, Swiss ball, or yoga ball). Fitness ball exercises are a great way to improve strength, cardio endurance, and balance. By tackling basic moves (like push-ups, squats, and planks) on an unstable surface, muscles get more bang for the buck. Stability ball exercises are also great for getting back into shape after an injury because they can reduce muscle and spinal strain during certain movements.

Squat & Reach

Get your blood flowing with a slow-and-steady squat for arms, abs and legs. Hold your stability ball with straight arms, squat down bringing the exercise ball all the way to the left side, just above the left foot. Hold this position for three slow breaths, then twist and return to standing position. Repeat on the other side.

Hamstring Curl

Lie on the floor with arms extended perpendicular to the torso and lower calves and heels resting on the balance ball. Engaging the glutes and abs, lift the hips up from the floor. Use the outstretched arms for stability, as this is definitely a wobbly position! Exhale and slowly bring the knees in towards the hips, so the feet are resting flat on top of the stability ball. Pause for a few seconds in this position and then inhale, straightening legs out again.

Roll Out

Among the exercise ball workouts, this multitasking move works the arms and the core! Kneel behind the yoga ball, with palms down on top. Slowly use the hands to push the yoga ball forward until the triceps are resting on top of the ball and the legs are almost all the way extended with the knees on the ground.

Remember: A tight core will keep the body moving straight ahead. Feeling pressure on the knees? Place a towel or yoga mat under them for a little extra TLC. Concentrate on maintaining the proper form for 10 reps straight.

V-Sit with Balance Ball

V is for victory – at least in the killer abs department. Lie face up on the ground with ankles resting on the top of the stability ball. With arms pointing towards the feet, roll the torso up so the body forms a V with the hips on the ground. Hold for five counts (long enough for a serious case of the abs-shakes) and slowly roll back down to the ground. Repeat this balance ball exercise for 6-10 reps.

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Best Back Exercises for Women

Back exercises for women can help you fix a lot of problems, from unwanted fat to strength issues, and they can also help you look great in a sexy backless dress. Try the best back exercises for women.

Tone your muscles and burn fat with the right types of easy exercises for your back.

Upper Back Exercises for Women

The best way to tone your upper back consists of a series of 3 exercises, the Floor Y-T-I Raises, according to Women's Health. To get the full effect of some of the best back exercises for women, make sure you perform all three in a row.

Each exercise has you lying down on the floor, face down, with your arms extended. In the Floor Y Raise, they're angled at 30 degrees, so your body forms the shape of the letter Y. In the T raise, the arms are perpendicular to your body and in the I raise, they're stretched so your body forms a straight line. With thumbs extended upwards, raise your arms as high as you can for 12 consecutive times.

Lower Back Exercises for Women

If you're already used to moderate exercise, pull-ups can be an excellent way to increase muscle strength in your lower back. When you want to start with something easier, try single-arm rows. After placing your right hand and right knee on a bench so your body is parallel to the floor (with your left leg on the floor), lift a dumbbell in your left arm towards the chest.

Dead lifts are also an excellent way to work the muscles in your lower back, but you may need help from a professional in selecting the right weight.

Back Fat Exercises for Women

The Rear Lateral raise is one of the best back exercises for women and it can help you burn back fat faster. Standing straight, bend your knees and your entire body forward until it's almost parallel to the floor. With dumbbells in both your arms, lift them to the height of your back and do 10-12 repeats for each set.

If you have a Swiss exercise ball at hand, do the Ball Y Raise, by lying with your abdomen on the ball and raising your hand with thumbs up until your body gets into the shape of the letter Y.

Back Strengthening Exercises for Women

Lunges with your hands on your hips can work both your back and your leg muscles and they're one of the truly easy back exercises for women.

Another excellent way to gain strength in your back is the Side Plank. Lie on one side while bending your forearm so your shoulder is right above your elbow. Lift your hips and raise yourself while keeping your forearm on the floor. Keep your body in a straight line and keep the position for 30 seconds, before repeating it once again, then changing sides.

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Women’s Fitness: Facial Yoga Exercises

Incorporating facial exercises into your busy lifestyle is the best way to tone and tighten loose skin around the eyes, mouth and jaw. And it only takes minutes!

Face yoga is a series of exercises that promise to do for your face what yoga does for your body: relax and tone muscles. Mimicking facial expressions will sooth those tension-filled expressions we make every day without even realizing it. Whatever you want to call it - facial yoga or yoga based facial exercises for toning your muscles - just think of it as yoga for your face. Try the best exercises for your facial muscles.

Eyes and Mouth Exercise

For this facial yoga exercise, make a face as if you were to pronounce the letter O. While holding your O, try stretching the area below your nose, looking up, and hold for 10 seconds. Do 2 sets. It is easier if you don’t stop breathing in the middle of a pose. Try to avoid this by breathing as usual and relaxing as you shape your face.

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Neutral Face Exercise

This facial yoga exercise is the easiest of all of the face yoga poses. Experts say all you have to do is "imagine the face of Buddha superimposed over your face like a Photoshop filter." Just close your eyes, visualize the point between your eyebrows, and make a very slight smile. This facial yoga exercise relaxes those lines on your face as well.

Cheek Resistance Exercise

One face yoga exercise that can tighten sagging skin is the fingertip lift. To perform this exercise, place your fingertips on the apples of your cheeks. Apply firm pressure as you smile wide. This creates resistance and can tighten your muscles over time. Ensure that your teeth are visible and hold your position for 10 seconds. Slowly let your mouth relax.

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Jawline Sharpening Exercise

Stick your tongue as far out as possible, facing the tip of your tongue upward. From that pose, tilt your head back until a vertical line forms between your neck and your lower jaw, and hold for 10 seconds. Do 2 sets of this pose. Sticking your tongue out helps promote secretion of pancreatic gland hormones that is thought to have an anti-aging effect on your body.

Total Face Exercise

First, scrunch your face, closing your eyes and pursing your lips closed. Hold that position for five seconds. Next, open your eyes as wide as possible and stick your tongue out, trying to touch it to your chin. This facial yoga exercise stretches the facial muscles and may be beneficial in reducing wrinkles.

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Best Exercises for Different Body Shapes

Make the most of your workout routine by exercising with your body shape in mind. Try some of the best exercises for different body shapes for great results.

Body types are entirely determined by genetics, but instead of blaming your parents for the features you have inherited (height or bone structure), you can try to change your body shape (fat vs. muscle mass) with the right exercise routine and following healthy eating tips.

Balanced Exercises for Hourglass Body Shapes

If you are symmetrically curvy with a small waist, then you have an hourglass shape.
Your workout routine should be focusing on both cardio and resistance exercises to maintain a balance between your upper and lower body. Cardio exercises might include: Zumba, stationary biking (with light weights), a classic cardio workout (e.g. swimming), and jacks challenges.

For the strength-training, hourglass shapes need to pay special attention to firming the upper back with exercises like the Bent Over Row (two sets of eight to 12 reps with a moderate to heavy weight).

Low Resistance Exercises for Apple Body Shapes

Apple shapes tend to be athletically built women (think Jennifer Garner): shoulders are typically wider, with smaller hips. The good news is that this body shape has a tendency to build muscle and lose fat faster due to their often higher metabolism, so you won't have too much trouble in choosing the best exercises for different body shapes. Try performing exercises that are low resistance and involve low repetitions, such as: jogging, reverse lunges, wide squats, leg presses and deadlifts.

Adequate Exercises for Pear Body Shapes

This is the classic silhouette: curvy at the bottom with a small waist. We recommend up to 45 minutes of cardio five to six days per week: walking, jogging, and cycling. The benefits of low intensity cardio include little pressure on the knee, hip and ankles. Use moderate heavy weights for strength-training exercises, dumbbell bicep curls, overhead triceps extensions, dumbbell shoulder presses and chest presses. As you progress, you can increase the weights in the upper body workout.

Varied Exercises for Ruler Body Shapes

Ruler Body Shapes already have a great muscle tone and low body fat. You can perform pretty much any exercises you want, paying special attention to those cardio activities that will help you lose weight in your problem areas, such as stomach and buttocks: spinning, walking or jogging on an incline, step classes, squats, bench presses and shoulder presses, sit-ups. To make sure that you build symmetrical body shape with the right exercises for different body shapes, all muscle groups should be emphasized and regularly given a workout.

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