Keeping your stomach flat is impressive because it takes the right combination of exercise and proper diet. Working out extra hard to build abdominal muscles that stand out can draw admiring stares at the beach, but neglecting other areas of your body to pursue defined abs can cause a painful imbalance.
Spinal Balance
Working out only your abdominal muscles pulls your spine out of alignment, according to professor Stuart McGill of the University of Waterloo in Canada, who specializes in spine biomechanics. McGill told "The New York Times" that "I see too many people who have six-pack abs and a ruined back." McGill said it's critical to work all the core muscles that support the spine.
No Sit-Ups
Traditional sit-ups put an extraordinary stress on the back, McGill told "The New York Times." He suggests a crunch alternative where you lie flat with one leg bent and your hands flat on the floor for support, then raise your head and shoulders off the floor and hold that position for a few seconds.
Targeted Training
You can't make fat disappear in front of your abs by simply exercising that area. Targeting that muscle group without reducing the fat in your diet or burning more calories than you take in could, in fact, make your stomach look bigger without muscle definition because the fat layer is atop the muscle layer.
Targeted Dieting
Your body stores fat based on heredity and physiological factors. Fat tends to store in the midsection because it's the easiest place for the body to carry it. That's a main reason why it's so difficult to sculpt abdominal muscles, because the fat layer tends to be the last to go. There is no food or supplement that will target fat reduction in the midsection, or any area, for that matter, notes Natural News.
Posture
Develop a better-looking midsection by routinely practicing good posture. Slouching or an exaggerated forward pelvic tilt can exaggerate a bulge in the abdominal area. Proper posture should feel as though a cable is pulling your spine up through your head. Find a neutral pelvic position by pointing your tailbone more toward the floor, advises Deborah L. Mullen, CSCS on the Simple Fitness Solutions website.
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