With all the flat stomach workout information you see online and in magazines it’s hard to figure out what’s the best and most effective way to create a flat stomach workout that will work and get you results.  So I’m going to take the time right now to help you with some basic guidelines to follow to help you get the flat stomach you’ve always wanted.
Interval Training

Stay away from your standard steady state cardio regimen, such as walking or jogging at one speed, as it will not get you optimal fat loss results to get a flat stomach. The most effective flat stomach cardio is Interval Training.

This means you are alternating a certain time period of high intensity work (or sprinting) with a slow intensity work (like a slow jog or walk). This type of interval training will help you burn fat faster and up to 48 hours after your workout.

The best part about this type of workout – you can use it on any cardio machine in the gym – the bike, Treadmill, Elliptical, even the Stair Climber.
Here is an example of what your interval training could look like:

Week 1-3: 15 Seconds Sprint, 45 Seconds Walk/Jog (repeat for 5 minutes)

Week 4-6: 30 Second Sprint, 30 Seconds Walk/Jog (repeat for 10 minutes)

Week 7-10: 1 minute Spring, 1 minute Walk/Jog (repeat for 15-20 minutes)

Workout Program

In order to get flat abs, your workout needs to incorporate weights – not just cardio and crunches.  A full body weight workout is the most effective and efficient type of workout for a flat stomach. This type of weight workout will keep your heart rate elevated, therefore, burning more fat throughout your workout.

Also, when you lift weights you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn, which will get you the flat stomach that you want.

Full body workouts allow you to train every muscle group, three times a week (with a day of rest between each workout).  This type of training promotes muscle growth as well as fast fat burning, due to the increase in fat burning enzymes in your body. The more fat you burn the sooner you have the flat stomach you’ve always wanted.

Below is a sample of a full body workout

A follow along flat stomach workout video.

Diet

The hardest part of any flat stomach workout is the diet. When you think of working out, you don’t really think about what you eat – you are most concerned with what you have to do at the gym. However, a flat stomach diet is a key element in getting the stomach of your dreams.

If you’re post workout attitude about eating sounds like this, “I just worked out so I can eat whatever I want” – will only make it harder for you to get a flat stomach.  A flat stomach diet must consist of protein, healthy fats, and ‘good’ carbohydrates.  Making sure you have the right mixture of these foods in your meals is important to getting a flat stomach.

I’ve changed up the workout routine yet again and it was another kick butt, fat burning, heart pumping workout. It was fun though, knowing that I was burning fat and getting another step closer to my goal.
Today’s workout was based around the idea of high intensity and little rest. I focused on no rest between exercises and 30-40 seconds rest between sets. This type of workout keeps your heart rate up and burning fat for longer.
The workout:
Warm-up: Bridges + Clams
Set 1
Single Leg Machine Leg Press (4 sets/ 10-15 reps)
Calf Raises (3 sets – Regular/Toes In/Toes Out)
Set 2
Dumbbell Chest Press (20/15/12/10 – Increased weight on 3rd set)
Supine Lat Pulldown (4 sets/8-10 reps)
Set 3
Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Heavier weight 4 sets/8-10 reps)
Resistance Band Flyes (4 sets/20 reps)
Set 4
Machine Assisted Dips (4 sets/10-12 reps)
Stiff Legged Deadlifts (4 sets/15 reps)
Set 5
Crunches (3 sets 50 reps)
Plank (hold for 30 seconds)

I ended today’s workout with 30 minutes on the treadmill – doing an incline walk – focusing on a heel toe walk to work a bit more on the hamstrings.
I made it out of the gym, but we’ll see how I’m walking tomorrow!

While most people were celebrating the Irish or lack of Irish in them, I was at the  gym celebrating….um….well, not really celebrating, just enjoying another workout!

Today was an Upper Body day.  The last few weeks I’ve changed up my workout a bit – so I can do weights a few more times per week – by splitting upper and lower body I’m able to work my legs a little harder than I would if I was doing a full body workout – same concept goes for the upper body as well. I’m going to stick with this routine for a few more weeks and then change it up again – there are SO many

exercises to try in the gym – I can’t stick with the same ones for TOO long!!

(FYI – In case you don’t know – cuz I didn’t – the letters denote which exercises are superset – with minimal rest inbetween each set of exercises.  Its easier to write out the workout with the letters so you know which exercises go together.)

3 sets/10-12 reps

A1 Incline DB Chest Press

A2 Supine Lat Pull Down

4 sets/10 reps

B1 Barbell Skull Crushers

B2 Barbell Close Grip Chest Press

3 sets/Decline Weight 15 reps

C1 Hammer Curls w/Rope  (15/50, 15/45, 15/40)

4 Sets/10-12 reps

D1 SIngle Arm Standing Row

D2 Push-ups with Medicine Ball Roll

After this I couldn’t move my arms and my legs were still dead from last night’s lower body workout, but it was time to hit the treadmill.

I tried something new today to keep myself on the treadmill longer:

I started with 20 mins of high intensity intervals – I did 1 min walking/3 mins fast run – to challenge myself I’d play with the speed I was running (i.e. Run 1 min @ 7.0/1 min @ 7.5/1 min 8.0) or go back up and down  this kept the running interesting and kept me moving. I also did this workout while listening to some fast techno/rap/rock mix of music.

After 20 mins I changed it up – increased the incline on my treadmill to something pretty high – 7.0 to 9.0 – and lowered the speed so I was walking at a moderate pace, focusing on walking heels first (it works more of your hamstring). While doing this I listened to some podcasts I’ve downloaded the last few weeks but haven’t had time to sit and listen to them, and now I’ve found the time.

Next thing you know – its been 40 mins of cardio and I could’ve gone for more! This helped to keep it interesting and kept me buring fat longer!  So, if you need a quick change in the gym – try changing up your routine or even changing pieces of equipment!

How was your St. Patrick’s day? Hope it was a good one!!!