Having a flat stomach is a dream for many of us. We try a lot of ways to get a flat toned stomach. Out of several ways, Planks are one ways you can try to flatten your stomach. Read below to know more about if doing planks can help flatten your stomach.
Can Doing Planks Help Flatten Your Stomach?
Skin on the abdomen has a natural tendency to store fat; and once fat cells accumulate in this area, they never disappear. Though diet and exercise help in shrinking them, they always remain under the surface of your skin, waiting to plump up. There are four large muscles extend across the abdomen, directly under this fat layer.
The plank exercise position helps in tightening and toning up your stomach muscles. Although the plank pose will not single-handedly help flatten your stomach fat; however it can be combined with some other techniques and tips to shrink your stomach.
The plank exercise involves balancing on your hands and toes while maintaining a straight line from head to heels. You can also bend your arms and balance on your forearms and toes, as a modification. The body aligns into a straight position, by keeping the abdominal muscles pulled tight. Maintaining the plank position requires the stomach muscles to remain taut, that provides an effective abdominal workout.
Though planks might be beneficial in reducing the belly fat, you need to combine some other techniques to flatten your stomach. It is essential to maintain proper diet, perform aerobic exercise and strength training to do that. Controlling your diet is an important component for losing body fat. The most effective way for doing this is by eating small meals; five or six times regularly to keep your metabolism elevated and to prevent overeating. You can consume a serving of green vegetables, protein and fat in each meal, also add some fruits and starchy carbohydrates.
Aerobic exercise aids in burning excess calories and reducing overall levels of body fat. 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, 5 days in a week, such as brisk walking elliptical, cycling or low-impact aerobics.
Apart from this, strength training also help to burn body fat by burning calories during the activity, but also by building up the muscle tissue.
Conclusion:
So, now get out of your couch and start doing the planks for the flat stomach you always wanted for!
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