Flat Abs Don’t Take Time

Well, they do take some time. But probably nowhere near as much as you think.

According to The Sunday Age the average adult in our busy world has twelve minutes each day to themselves.

Twelve minutes.

That’s including time spent with your partner or family!

It’s no wonder.

I don’t know anyone in my circle of friends or clients who works a standard ‘9-5’. On top of that, we take on gym and sporting commitments, hobbies, perhaps community commitments, and try to maintain a social life.

The good news?

I’ve got a few tricks that will not only help you can gain some much needed ‘you’ time, but also ensure your exercise program is more effectively geared to flattening your stomach.

1.    Quality over Quantity
The truth is that you don’t need to spend hours in the gym when you work out. In fact, you don’t even need to spend an hour. Studies have shown that 40-50 minutes is the optimum time for positive response to exercise. After this, your body starts to release stress hormones. This can actually make your belly FATTER! Optimise your time by working harder for a shorter period. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being ‘about to collapse and/or throw up’, aim for at least a 7-8. And take a look around – most people in the gym seem to be running at around a 3-4, if that. No wonder they’re not achieving their goals! Don’t be one of them.

2.    Maximise your Incidental Exercise
I know, I know. You’ve heard it all before. Take the stairs, park the car further away so you can walk more, squeeze in a ten minute workout rather than nothing at all. It’s true. It really does all add up. But since you’re going to the extra trouble, why not make sure you get the greatest benefit. Squeeze in that extra few minutes of cardio as soon as you get out of bed. Why? Even 5 or 10 minutes (skipping, star jumps, push ups, you get the drift) will not only kick-start your metabolism for the day, it will set a healthy tone for your day. Another plus? You can feel guilt-free about cutting your workout down by a few minutes later in the day.

3.    Multi-task
I don’t mean run while talking on the phone. Or kneel on your exercise ball at your desk (I’m impressed if you can though!). I’m talking about using your existing exercise time to attack your body in more ways than one. Example? Rather than going for a long run one day, and doing a big stretch session the next, why not try a Bikram Yoga class? You’ll feel that cardio burn and stretch at the same time. In the gym, don’t think you have to dedicate separate time to weights and cardio. Next time you train, turn your weights program into a circuit by repeating 10-15 reps of each exercise, with no rest between. Repeat 3-4 times. Believe me, if you work hard at this time and are honest on the ‘no rest’, you can achieve an 8-9/10 workout in as little as 20 minutes.

Stay tuned for my next contribution to this blog, when I’ll share the optimal exercise program for time-efficient Flat Abs training.