Nearly everyone wants to lose inches off their waist and there are many schools of thought on how to accomplish this. Many people believe that the best way to trim your waist is to do hundreds if not thousands of sit-ups or crunches, but in reality, this method will not do much good. In fact, you may end up actually thickening your waist as a result.

Another common misconception is that you can target specific areas on your body for weight loss. While it would be great if it were true, there are absolutely no proven techniques that will allow you to lose weight only from your waist. It simply is not genetically possible to target only one area on your body for fat loss.

A trim waist is best achieved by using the right kinds of exercises in the right amount. We'll get to the second way in just a minute, but let's focus first on the types of exercises you should be doing. We already mentioned that crunches can make your waist bigger, so let's look into that a little further.

If you are just doing crunches and you're not working on a fat loss plan, you are essentially building up muscles underneath a layer of fat. While it is true that some calories can be burned with these exercises, it is not enough to burn that fat away from your midsection.

So, you are essentially building up those muscles under that fat, which will increase the volume of your waist, not decrease it. In addition, chances are you may not be doing your crunches effectively. They are only effective when you are using your abdominal muscles, not your back muscles to pull yourself upward. The abs are only in use from the time you lift your shoulders off the ground until you get a few inches up in the air. After that, your pelvic muscles take over and you're not getting much benefit.

The best exercises that you can use to isolate your waist are the ones that require cross over your body. This twisting motion will reduce the size of your waist much more effectively than crunches. Whether you're standing or on the floor, cross body movements are the most effective means of whittling your waist.

In truth however, the absolute best way to make your waist smaller is to burn the fat that is deposited there. Once you do that, you'll be able to see the actual results in your muscles and you'll be able to peel off inches from your body. In order to burn up that fat, you're going to need to reduce your calorie intake and increase your aerobic workouts.

Pumping iron without an aeorobic component doesn't do any good here.  True you are using energy to lift the weights, but you need to ramp up that heart rate and get your body working to burn that fat. If aerobics aren't your thing, find exercises that do get your heart rate up and stick with them. Even spinning can help you burn abdominal fat if you do it long enough.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-06-02 05:07:11. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Running for Optimum Weight Loss If you want to get the most out of a running regimen for weight loss, setting crazy weight loss goals and then running like crazy may not be the most advantageous way to get things done. Here are some tips for running for optimum weight loss. - Running often has......
• Ramp Up Your Metabolism Naturally If you want to jump start your weight loss efforts, you're going to need to focus on your metabolism. For most of us, our metabolisms have either been slowed by yo-yo dieting or even genetics and it can be hard to get them back again. However, it is not......
• 6 Ways to Tell When Exercise Is Hurting You We’ve all been conditioned to think that unless we “feel the burn” we’re not working hard enough when we exercise. However, there is a fine line between reaching that optimum fat burning zone and over doing it. Here are some tips to help you figure out when your exercise is......
• Simple and Serious Resistance Band Workouts Most people know what resistance bands are, but do not realize how effective these exercise tools can actually be at building strength and helping to work off weight. How can a series of rubber tubes or bands actually do anything, right? It is time to lose this attitude because resistance......
• Water's Role in Weight Loss Water is an extremely important element that is absolutely vital when it comes to losing weight. Most people are aware of the fact that cutting down on calories and exercising are necessary for weight loss, but they often eventually run into a plateau, which can occur for a number of......

Related Websites

• Running for Abs: How to Get a Six-Pack with the Help of the Treadmill Getting a six-pack isn't easy, or else everyone would have them. Just the phrase "six-pack" seems to carry with it a sense that it is the truly defining characteristic of a strong physical specimen. Yet some people seem to work out constantly and never find that they have a six-pack.......
• Should You Have a Walking Rhythm When You Hike? [caption id="attachment_188" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Walking Rhythm"][/caption]Have you ever gone on a hiking trip as a beginner, and even though you enjoyed it, noticed that some other hikers seemed to pass you at unreasonably fast paces? Did you wonder how they were able to achieve that pace without seeming to lose......
• 10 Frugal Fitness Gifts For Under $50 photo credit: krisdecurtis Christmas is almost here, and if you're anything like me you've got a pretty long list of people you need to buy gifts for. I don't really want to spend a ton of money on the gifts I buy, but I do want to give gifts......
• Want To Lessen The Pain Of Working Out? Coffee To The Rescue! The initial results from a new study have suggested that caffeine may have the effects of lessening the pain from intense exercise.  From MSNBC.com That cup of coffee that many gym rats, bikers and runners swill before a workout does more than energize them. It kills some of the pain......
• Exercise Free At Home And Ditch The Gym Membership Getting and staying in shape is one of the best moves you can make, both physically and financially.  Not only will you feel better and live longer, but you'll also save a bundle on future healthcare costs.  Over your lifetime, the price of not being in shape can be literally......

Online Stores

• Heart Rate Monitors Monitors Pedometers Gym, Workout Yoga Exercise Fitness

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.

Time the change your life? No longer content to live a sedentary lifestyle and revel in couch potatoism? Click here to download the 31 page the 100% FREE eBook "How to Lose Weight and Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle."

Categories:

exercise, goals, waistline

Tags:

abdominal muscles, back muscles, calories, common misconception, doing crunches, exercises, midsection, pelvic muscles, schools of thought, shoulders, sit ups, ups, weight loss