Looking for fun and creative ways to flatten your tummy? You’ve come to the right place! So many exercises proven to burn belly fat are boring and difficult (think crunches, the plank, squats). The good news is there are plenty of really fun ways to blast belly fat – so fun that you won’t even realize you’re working out!
We’ve compiled a list of truly enjoyable activities that have been proven to tone your tummy and shed those unwanted pounds. A lot of these activities were inspired by fun activities we all did as children. Remember when burning energy was fun and exciting? It can be like that again! Incorporate some of these energy-boosting, belly fat-blasting activities into your daily routine and you’ll be fit and fabulous in no time!
Here are 10 fun and effective ways to blast belly fat:
Jumping Rope
Jumping rope is a great way to work off calories and tone your tummy. Make sure you stand up straight and hold your ab muscles tight as you do your reps (and if you’re a pro, you can even do criss-crosses to really firm up your stomach). Skipping rope for 10 minutes a day can make a huge impact on your endurance – and will go a long way in shedding those last few pounds.
Dancing
Dance your way to a flat tummy by listening to your favorite music and moving to the beat. Wait until no one’s around, blast your favorite songs and dance around the house – you’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll have (not to mention how many calories you’ll burn and how tight your muscles will feel)!
Make sure to try as many dance moves as you can. Reach into the air, get low and do the twist – these dance moves will ensure you get a full-body workout!
Hula Hooping
Hula Hooping is a fun and unique way to truly tighten your core. Hula Hooping for just 10 minutes a day can have a huge impact on your ab muscles and will do wonders for your shoulders, upper back and chest. Make sure you switch directions from time to time to ensure you’re working out both sides of your tummy.
Hula hoops can be purchased in the athletic section of most department stores. In spring, you might even be able to find hula hoops at your local Dollar Store for a truly affordable price.
Playing Frisbee
This is a great activity if you have a workout partner who’s also interested in fun ways to lose weight. The crisp movements when throwing a frisbee will work your stomach muscles while reaching and running to catch it will burn calories and kick up your cardio. Try standing further apart every day to challenge your body and really make your workout worthwhile.
Do the Limbo
Remember how much your stomach hurt last time you tried doing the limbo at your office Hawaiian luau? That’s because you were working out muscles that you wouldn’t normally work out with regular exercises like crunches. The limbo is a great way to stretch your core and keep it flexible and tight. You don’t need your co-workers to get a limbo workout.
Grab a broom and set it up between two objects in your home and do it on your own. Don’t worry if you can’t get really low the first time. Practice makes perfect and the more times you try, the more flexible your body will become.
Jumping Jacks
There’s a good reason why jumping jacks were always the first exercise your gym teacher had you do in high school – they’re a great way to get your blood flowing and they work out so many different parts of your body. From your arms and legs to your stomach and back, this easy and fun cardio booster has become a staple in many workout plans.
Try doing at least 50 jumping jacks a day and you’ll notice a difference in less than a week.
Boxing
You don’t have to have gloves or a punching bag to reap the benefits of boxing. Throwing 50 punches a day will work out your core unlike any other exercise. To get the most out of this exercise, make sure you mix up the direction of your punches. A combination of straight punches, left and right punches, hooks and upper lifts will give you the best results.
Boxing is also a great stress release – for those of you looking to let off some anger at the end of a bad day.
Running
Okay, so maybe this isn’t the most unique exercise but it’s definitely fun and most certainly effective in blasting belly fat. We couldn’t leave it off the list – sorry! To make running even more fun, find cool trails in your neighbourhood and give yourself a time to beat. This will motivate you to run faster – and the beautiful scenery of the trails will distract you from thinking about how much farther you have left.
Yoga
You don’t need to know all of the positions or exercises to truly benefit from yoga. Do what feels right for you and you’ll notice a big difference in your core strength. Try using a beginners DVD once a day with your kids. They’ll love it as much as you do and you’ll all be calm and clear-minded throughout the day.
Cartwheels
Cartwheels are a great way to stretch and strengthen your stomach muscles and work out your entire body at once. Remember how good it felt to do cartwheels as a kid? Tossing a couple of cartwheels into your daily workout routine will make you more flexible, stronger and fitter (not to mention the envy of all your friends).
Once again, it doesn’t matter if you have perfect form – everyone starts with poor form. The more you practice the better you’ll become and before you know it, you’ll have perfect form (and a perfect figure)!
