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Is stomach vacuuming the secret to a flat tummy?

Forget sit-ups and planks; now experts are saying that stomach vacuuming the quickest way to great abs and a flat tum

Is stomach vacuuming the secret to a flat tummy?
by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Admit it; crunches and planks are painful, they’re laborious, and they can leave you with an almighty back ache.

So we’re DEFINITELY going to be trying stomach vacuuming, which vows to be a far simpler - and safer - abs exercise.

Before you rush to get your hoovers, however, it’s worth pointing out that stomach vacuuming has ZILCH to do with cleaning equipment and EVERYTHING to do with your breathing.

Think of it as the lovechild of Pilates and Yoga, if you like.

Designed to activate and strengthen the tranverse abdominis (TVA) by simply breathing in and contracting it, this move (when done properly) will see you cinch your midsection AND stabilise your spine.

That means you’ll reduce back pain and improve your posture; winner winner, chicken dinner.

Check it out:

Let’s break that down into a few easy steps, shall we?

  1. As soon as you wake up in the morning (this move works best on an empty stomach AND can be done in bed), roll onto your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the mattress.

  2. Breathe out and, as you are releasing the air, pull your belly button in toward your spine.

  3. Hold that position for 15 seconds.

  4. Repeat three to five times, holding the position for longer each time; you ideally want to be at 60 seconds for the last exhalation.

REMEMBER: The more your belly button comes in, the more the TVA is contracting - and the more likely you are to get results.

As you find the move easier, you can try it on your hands and knees, sitting up straight on a chair, or on an exercise ball.

If you’ve really got a knack for it, you can also start trying to hold your belly button close to your spine while you sit or stand throughout the day.

But does stomach vacuuming get results?

Well, when combined with a healthy diet and your regular workouts (be that walking, jogging, swimming, or whatever), fitness experts say you should start to see and feel the benefits within just a few WEEKS!

Wowzer - we’re off to try that now, then.

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