Fitness Tip of the Day: Tuesday's Trunk and Core -- Fat Burning Abs

As I've stated before, the way to flatter abs is much more than doing crunches.  If you want a toned midsection you need to do three things.

First, you need to do some fat burning cardio--whether it is done as a HIIT (high intensity, interval training) workout like this one, or as a 10 mile run, you need to MOVE to burn calories.  You should try to move everyday.  Change things up, one day do a more intense shorter cardio workout, another day take a long walk--but walk fast enough to get your heart rate up a bit.  It's actually better on your joints to alternate between high and low impact workouts.

Second, you need to do strength training exercises; you can choose to do crunches (not the best exercise you can pick though), Pilates, planks, or some other kind of core work (don't forget to work your back muscles too), doing enough to bring the muscles to full fatigue. These exercises need to be done at least 3 to 4 times a week (with a day of rest in between) to see any results.  Other muscle work is also important--you really want to do strength training for your entire body. Remember, the more active muscle tissue you have on your body, the more calories (and fat) your body burns just to maintain.

Thirdly, and most importantly, your flatter abs and leaner body both come from what you eat.  You can be working out regularly like you're supposed to, but if you are eating nothing but processed junk food (refined sugars and flours, hydrogenated fats--all in pre-packaged food), deep fried, and fast food you will have a much more difficult time getting lean and losing fat.  Eat more high fiber vegetables and fruits and less junk.  I'm not saying to give treats up completely, but make them just that--treats that are consumed once in a while, not daily.

We've been taught it's all about calories in versus calories burned, and yes, you can lose weight that way--weight, not necessarily fat.  You could decrease your calories and eat nothing but 1,200 calories worth of candy bars and lose weight, but would you be "healthier"?  I think not.

So, do your cardio and strength training and ditch the junk food, drink more water and find your leaner body.

Today's workout comes from JessicaSmithTV on YouTube.  It is a 30 minute HIIT fat burning, abs routine that alternates between high intensity cardio exercises and exercises that focus on the core.  There is some jumping involved, but she offers modifications for those of you who shouldn't be jumping.