The midsection seems to be the first to go regardless of your body shape. Even for those who maintain a normal body shape and exercise regularly, the midsection can be the first place you gain and the last place you lose. Here are some surefire ways to whittle your waist in no time.

Put a fit ball to use. Over 100 different exercises can be performed with this simple sphere, and most of them focus on the muscles below your chin and above your hips. The best part? Fit balls tend to cost just around $10 and usually come with an exercise chart to give you some workout ideas. Sites like YouTube are also loaded with fit ball demonstrations, so you won’t be at a loss for exercises!

Try an old favorite. The Kettlebell, founded in the early 1700s, is a Russian training tool that looks like a bowling ball with a handle. Kettlebells are fantastic for strengthening the core and specifically the lower back and love handles. Most people focus on the abs when striving for a smaller pants size, but the lower back and obliques also store fat and these muscles tend to be weak. This is a great way to get a strong and sexy lower back to add to a slim midsection.

Test your Pilates or yoga skills. Have you ever seen a Pilates or yoga instructor with a spare tire? Didn’t think so. While these two exercise disciplines have their differences, either is sure to give you a firm, flat, and defined abdominal region. Choose a live class or video and see what works best for you (and your schedule).

Boot Camp Anyone? A well-run boot camp will not only give you a firm midsection, but a lean body and the performance to back it up. Camp programs typically combine the best of the best in exercise modalities including speed, agility, cardiovascular endurance, muscle endurance, flexibility, plyometrics, muscle strengthening, and muscle endurance as well as balance and core specific conditioning.

Eat fresh foods. The only way to truly benefit from all this conditioning is to also eat foods that were alive at one point (fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, sweet potatoes, etc). Avoid processed foods and starches (a rule of thumb: If it’s white, you can probably skip it). Keep a food log for accountability and to see what’s working and what needs improvement.

Nestpert: Kelli Calabrese is the International Master Trainer of Adventure Boot Camp and the author of the 30 Day Detox Fat Burning Meal Plan. www.KelliCalabrese.com

Also Learn How to Make Realistic Weight-Loss Goals.

-- Samantha Leal

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