Ways to Get a Flat Stomach

'A flat stomach', 'no belly fat', 'rock hard washboard abs', 'a ripped six pack'...all of these are common items on the New Year resolution list or wish list of most people around the world. After years of being overweight, many wake up on the first of January with renewed enthusiasm, energy and hope. Huffing and puffing through every minute of their workout, they feel extremely proud of what they have done at the end of day one. Then gradually, with every passing day, the enthusiasm level starts dwindling. Shoulders start drooping and the feet begin to feel heavier. Come twentieth of January and the workout for that particular year has reached its final destination - ground zero. If you find yourself familiar with the above scenario, then you've come to the right place. In the following sections, we will discuss the best and the most effective ways to get a flat belly.

The Best Way to Get a Flat Stomach
Before we begin, I would like to make a few things clear. Those of you who are hellbent on knowing shortcuts to get a flat belly in just a few days, please do not waste your time in reading the rest of this article. I am not Harry Houdini, nor am I David Blaine, nor am I anyone else who will magically make all your belly fat vanish into thin air. Your fat has accumulated over a long period of time, and therefore, losing it will also take time. The amount of time that will be required depends ENTIRELY upon you and on how sincere and dedicated you are, with respect to exercise and diet.

Exercises: An Overview
Cardiovascular exercises, abdominal exercises and yoga are three of the most successful methods to get a flat stomach within a short period of time. Let us have a look at each one of them.

Cardiovascular Exercises: High intensity cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, squash, cycling, tennis, brisk walking, etc., help your body to burn a good deal of calories. This contributes towards reduction of overall body fat, in addition to belly fat. Ideally, you should do any one of the above-mentioned exercises for a period of 30-40 minutes at least thrice a week.

Abdominal Exercises: This is a must, since losing belly fat is what you are targeting. The various abdominal exercises that you should do are:

• standard crunches
• cross (oblique) crunches
• crunches while keeping your legs straight
• leg raises
• side bends
• side twists

Set aside a time period of 30 minutes for your abs workout and do it 3-4 times a week.

Yoga: There are a few yoga exercises, breathing exercises and asanas which help in tightening your stomach muscles and lessening belly fat. Some of them are:

• Bikram yoga exercises
• Pranayama techniques such as kapalbhati and bhasrika
• Surya namaskar or sun salutation exercise
• Ashtanga yoga
• Other yoga asanas such as bhujangasana, tadasana, and markatasana

Role of Diet in Losing Belly Fat
Lowering your calorie intake and having a healthy diet is certainly one of the fastest ways of getting rid of accumulated belly fat. You should strictly keep away from all fatty foods such as fast food, junk food, pizzas, cheese, red meat, fried foods, ice creams, etc. Including a high amount of fiber in your diet will definitely help. Drink enough water. Having a bowl of soup or some fruit juice at the start of every meal will help in avoiding overeating and will also keep you full. Do not get fooled by any sort of wonder weight loss pills. They are only a marketing gimmick and are of no use whatsoever.

Pursuing all the above with a good deal of sincerity and discipline is of utmost importance, if you are serious about getting a flat stomach. A combination of exercise, diet, and self motivation can collectively be termed as the best way to get a flat stomach. Contrary to what most people believe, it is not all that difficult, and is certainly not impossible!