Healthy lifestyle strategies can be massively helpful for flattening and toning muscles, regardless of age.
Taking action is advised because a loss of muscle mass “decreases how quickly the body uses calories”, according to the Mayo Clinic.
This can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight over time, leaving many people with a bulging midsection.
Some people resort to cardio exercises, like running, brisk walking, biking and rowing, to burn calories and boost overall health, but there may be easier ways to target belly fat.
There may be easier ways to target belly fat than cardio
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Fitness expert Jenna Collins recently shared one method that flattens the stomach without affecting your diet or exercise regimen.
“I’m giving you one exercise that regardless of your fat percentage, will work to tighten your abdomen and give you a tighter and flatter appearance,” she explained.
“Excess fat is the only reason why you cannot see your abdominals, or why you have that lower belly pouch. You must consume fewer calories than you burn on a daily basis to lose fat.”
The exercise requires taking a deep breath in and out before contracting the muscles in the lower abdomen.
Jenna explained that this should create a cramping feeling around the lower abdomen as the muscles engage.
Also known as core bracing, the exercise uses the breath to produce intra-abdominal pressure.
The method helps create stiffness along the spine and protects the pelvic floor, stabilising the pelvis.
“If you do hold a high level of body fat, it will be harder to see these differences,” noted Jenna.
“However, you will still be training those muscles, and tightening that area of your stomach.
“It is really so simple, it does not require you to get into any exercise gear, you can do it at any time of the day.
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Belly fat can become more prominent during a person's senior yearsGETTY “I recommend doing it first thing in the morning when you get out of bed, but you can do it at work, you can do it after work, you can do it while you’re watching TV.
“And it really doesn’t take long to do it, just a couple of minutes of your day, and we all know that we have this time.”
By contracting and engaging the core, the body actively fires up muscles in the abdomen, helping to melt fat.
One person confirmed that the method had worked for them in the comments. They said: “She knows what she is talking about, I started these and similar exercises only a few weeks ago and already see a difference at almost 68 years old. Thank you!”
