Fat-busting exercises for your abs

By Daisy Carrington, amNewYork Deputy Features Editor | daisy.carrington@am-ny.com

September 26, 2007

While spare tires may be useful in the trunk of your car, they are less so when wrapped around your waist like a blubberous inner-tube.

If you're sick of people thinking you're pregnant when you're not (my father gets that all the time), try some of these fat-blasting exercises, brought to us by Daniel Lyon, a senior instructor at Real Pilates in TriBeCa and author of "Pilates for Men."

1. Double leg stretch
Lie flat on your back and bring your knees to the chest. Hug your ankles, one in each hand. Curl up into an abdominal crunch, scooping your abs in deeply. Inhale and open your limbs, stretching your arms back and your legs forward simultaneously. Keep your belly scooped and your head lifted as you sweep your arms around to the sides, and down to your hips. Finally, fold your arms and legs in to your starting position to begin again. Inhale to stretch out long. Exhale to fold in tight. Do six to ten reps.

2. Criss cross
Lie flat on your back and bring your knees to the chest. Place both of your hands behind your head, keeping the elbows wide. Curl up into a crunch - sinking your abdominals into a deep contraction. Twist to the right, keeping your right knee pulled in towards your left elbow, and extend the opposite leg. Hold for three counts. Lift higher and switch to the other side. Hold each side for three counts. Do six to ten reps on each side.

3. Spine twist
Sit tall with your legs outstretched and held tightly together in front of you. Extend your arms sideways and, working from your waist, exhale and spiral to one side. Contract your abs as you lift your spine higher. Your arms should travel with you while your hips and legs should remain firmly planted. Inhale and return to center. Exhale to twist on the opposite side. Return to center. Do three reps on each side.

4. The side bend
Sit to one side, resting on your left hip. Support yourself by resting your left hand on the mat. Reach your right hand out over your legs, palm up. With your legs stacked, inhale and press your hips up off the mat, straightening your legs and sweeping your arm up overhead. Hold this position. Come down slowly with control and bend your knees to get back into starting position. Breathe naturally and repeat a total of five times before switching sides.

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