Waist Reduction For Better Health

More than physical attraction, a trim waistline is good for your health. A pot belly, however, is not just unsightly--it is downright unhealthy.

A bulging tummy can be a strain on the heart as it causes organs to distend and weaken, ultimately leading to poor posture and back problems.

Overeating is a common cause of the potbelly, but not necessarily the main cause, according to studies. And when fat is the problem, it usually includes the buttocks and thighs.

The first step to strengthen the stomach is to cut down calorie consumption; the second step is to follow a regular exercise program with a special accent on waist reduction and strengthening.

Although our muscles grow in size and strength as we mature, most adults fail to subject the abdominal muscles to exercise to maintain toughness. The practice of sitting many hours doing computer work or watching television has principally contributed to a potbelly.

The abdomen is one of the most difficult areas of the body to trim down. To get the best results, you have to concentrate on feeling your abs compress, not just doing the exercise.

The following are three good exercises to firm up the waistline:

• Rowing Curl. Lie flat on your back with arms extended overhead. Curl the head and the upper body forward. At the same time bringing the arms forward and then the knees. This exercise is good for the abdominal muscles.
• Curl Up, Knees Bent. Lie on your back, knees bent with the feet flat on the floor. Your hands behind your head. Raise the head and shoulders off the floor just enough to see through the knees to the feet. Return to the starting position. As you sit up make sure that you tense the abdominal muscles. This exercise helps to firm the waistline. Build up until you are able to do 2o of these.
  
• Side Double Leg Raises. Lie on your right side, legs extended, head supported by the right arm. Raise both legs together as high as possible, and lower to the starting position. Do 10 times on this side and then repeat on the opposite. This exercise helps to firm the lateral muscles of the trunk and hips.

Waistline Pointers. In addition to regular abs exercises, maintaining good posture while sitting, standing or walking, can contribute to a flat tummy. Research shows that slouching can lead to poor posture, causing the abdominal muscles to droop and weaken; it may even cause internal organs to sag due to weight or pressure, making it difficult to stand up straight.