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Firming Exercises For Your Stomach

One of the areas of the body that many people wish to tone is the stomach and it is also one of the most difficult areas to tone. To firm the stomach, a variety of abdominal and core strengthening exercises are required. The following are some of the best firming exercises for the abdominal muscles.

Mountain Climbs

To begin, assume the position normally used for push-ups, with your palms down and flat at shoulder width apart and your legs extended straight out behind you. Bending your left leg, pull it upwards to your chest. Straighten your left leg and return to push-up position. Follow by bending your right leg and pulling it upwards to your chest, and then straighten it and return. Continue to alternate legs, and do as many climbs as you can in a slow, steady rhythm for sixty seconds.

Arrow-Armed Crunches

Lie down with your back on the floor, bend both knees slightly and plant your heels firmly to the floor. Use the abdominal muscles to lift the upper part of your body off the floor. While doing so, straighten both of your arms and place your palms together so that your arms resemble an arrow pointed at the division between your legs. Return to your starting position, and then lift your upper body up with your abdominal muscles and reach your "arrowed" arms toward your right side. Repeat again, reaching toward your left side. Repeat middle, right and left stretches for four more repetitions.

These are great for building and firming abdominal muscles; for stomach skin tightening to firm flabby tissue as you work-out, use Skin Tight to firm, tone and moisturize. Skin Tight is excellent for tightening flabby skin resulting from weight loss, loss of body fat or water, and it helps contract tissue as weight is lost.

Leg Lifts

Begin by lying on your back, and then sit up, supporting yourself on your elbows. Place both of your hands under both hips to provide lower back support. Your right leg will straighten while you bend your left knee and then raise them both so that your legs form a V shape. Keep your legs in position and lower them to the floor several inches and then lift them back up. The closer to the ground you lower your legs, the more of an abdominal workout you will get. Continue with your left leg bent for sixty seconds, and then switch legs and complete leg lifts for sixty more seconds.

Bicycles

Lie on your back with your legs extended and your hands clasped loosely under your neck and head. Bend your left leg up towards your chest while bringing your right elbow across the length of your body. Hold your position for five seconds, and then switch legs and elbows. Make sure that you are twisting your abdomen and torso rather than your neck. Repeat, performing ten bicycles on each side.

Cycling is healthy both for aerobic and lung capacity improvement but also for overall body firming since it works core muscles as well as legs, arms, thighs and buttocks.

Crunches With Side Bends

Lie on your back with your knees raised and your hands clasped loosely under your neck and head. Raise your upper body, using your abdominal muscles. When at the peak of your crunch, bend your body to the left, and then return to the starting position. Repeat, bending to the right side. For an additional challenge, hold your bent position for up to five seconds before returning to the starting position. Repeat ten times on each side.

While there are many products and exercises to tighten stomach skin and muscles, these will give you a real work-out and are excellent for complimenting any weight loss program, fitness regimen, or getting that post-baby body back in shape!