When it comes to exercises that tighten and flatten the stomach, the first thing that comes to mind are the classic abdominal exercises that you have to repeat a thousand times to achieve the desired results.
However, there are exercises that are even more effective and help us achieve excellent results while spending only a fraction of the time: the plank exercise.
This is a static exercise in which the hands and feet support the entire body weight. During this exercise, the body cannot move, as the abdominal muscles form the basis of human posture.
The exercise is performed 3 to 4 times per week, and it’s believed that just a few minutes of exercise can achieve the same effect as 1,000 regular abdominal exercises. Below is a guide for the exercise, known as the “plank”:
- Place your elbows and hands on the floor while keeping your legs straight. Your head should be about 30 cm above the floor and your nose pointing down.
- The body weight should be shifted onto the fingers and toes.
- With your abdominal muscles tensed, try to hold the position for 60 seconds.
- The legs and arms should be fully stretched (stretching).
- Repeat the exercise three times. As the exercise becomes more manageable, you can increase it from 60 to 90 seconds.
