The GIT Girl Magazine Volume I: July/August 2014 | Page 7

THE SIDE PLANK Trim your belly fat with Danielle’s easy ab moves. 1. After you lie on your left side, place your forearm in front of you onto the mat. Position yourself so that only the forearm of your left hand plus the left side of your hips and legs are in contact with the floor 2. Position your other hand either palm down onto the mat in front of you, on your hip in the akimbo style or behind your head. Maintain good core body posture and balance by first using your right hand as leverage on the mat. 3. Set your left leg directly atop the other or place the top (left) leg in front of the bottom (right) one. If you place them atop one another then the inside curvatures of your feet should touch in a way that they mirror each other. 4. Inhale and contract your abdominal muscles, pulling them inward. As you get more comfortable and better balanced in this exercise, you can contract your butt muscles also. 5. Exhale as you lift upwards using your left forearm and left foot. Do 8 to 12 repetitions. Repeat the side plank exercise on your right side and do this as many times as you'd like, feeling the burn primarily in your chest, back and core abdominal muscles. Danielle’s Favorite Belly Blasting Exercises! 1. After you lie on your back, Move your arms above your head, keep them straight and put the palms of your hands together. THE RUSSIAN TWIST 2. Contract the abs and gluteal muscles as you twist and roll up onto one shoulder. Keep the upper back straight and strong and twist until the shoulders are aligned perpendicular to the floor. 3. Hold the Russian Twist for a split second then slowly lower back to the starting position of the exercise. Keep your hips up and high, your abs tight and the glutes squeezed together. 4. Repeat the exercise on the other side of the body. Slowly twist up using the oblique muscles and slowly return to the starting position. Alternate sides until you complete the number of Russian Twists that you desire. Visit Danielle at fitnessfashionista.com 6