Here's a Week's Worth of Belly-Fat-Busting Workouts
These quick routines will help whittle your middle.
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WORKOUT 4
Jump-Switch Lunges
Get into a standard lunge position, with both knees bent at 90 degrees and your back knee an inch, or two, off the floor. As you rise out of the lunge, jump up and switch legs in the air then land with the opposite leg in front. Lunge again and repeat. Don't let your front knee go past your toes in the lunge position.
Make it easier: You can take the hop out and simply do continuous lunges on one leg before switching to the other side.
Skater Jumps
Stand in an athletic position with your knees slightly bent. Jump to the right, landing on your right foot, and cross your left leg behind your right ankle, softly tapping the ground with your left foot. Repeat the movement to the left, naturally pumping your arms for momentum as you jump back and forth.
Squat with Thigh Kick
Stand with legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Squat down, pushing your butt and hips back, so your knees are bent to 90 degrees. Rise up, pushing through your heels and squeezing your glutes. Lift one leg up and out to the side. Bring your leg down and squat again. Repeat, alternating legs for the side lift.
Burpees
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lower down into a squat, place your hands on the floor in front of your feet and kick your legs back into a plank position. Do one pushup (go to your knees if you need to). Hop your feet forward, stand up and jump straight up into the air. Repeat.
Make it easier: Take out the pushup or the jump.
Make it harder: Jump into a star position (arms and legs extended out to your sides) instead of a straight jump.
Seated Leg Lifts
Sit on the floor with your legs extended straight out in front of you and your back completely straight. Hug one knee into your chest and lift the other leg about 12 inches off the ground. Slowly lower the leg, lightly tapping your foot to the ground, and repeat. Try not to let your upper back hunch forward.
All images courtesy of Elyse Miller
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Jump-Switch Lunges
Get into a standard lunge position, with both knees bent at 90 degrees and your back knee an inch, or two, off the floor. As you rise out of the lunge, jump up and switch legs in the air then land with the opposite leg in front. Lunge again and repeat. Don't let your front knee go past your toes in the lunge position.
Make it easier: You can take the hop out and simply do continuous lunges on one leg before switching to the other side.
Skater Jumps
Stand in an athletic position with your knees slightly bent. Jump to the right, landing on your right foot, and cross your left leg behind your right ankle, softly tapping the ground with your left foot. Repeat the movement to the left, naturally pumping your arms for momentum as you jump back and forth.
Squat with Thigh Kick
Stand with legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Squat down, pushing your butt and hips back, so your knees are bent to 90 degrees. Rise up, pushing through your heels and squeezing your glutes. Lift one leg up and out to the side. Bring your leg down and squat again. Repeat, alternating legs for the side lift.
Burpees
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lower down into a squat, place your hands on the floor in front of your feet and kick your legs back into a plank position. Do one pushup (go to your knees if you need to). Hop your feet forward, stand up and jump straight up into the air. Repeat.
Make it easier: Take out the pushup or the jump.
Make it harder: Jump into a star position (arms and legs extended out to your sides) instead of a straight jump.
Seated Leg Lifts
Sit on the floor with your legs extended straight out in front of you and your back completely straight. Hug one knee into your chest and lift the other leg about 12 inches off the ground. Slowly lower the leg, lightly tapping your foot to the ground, and repeat. Try not to let your upper back hunch forward.
All images courtesy of Elyse Miller
Want more stories like this delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Oprah.com Healthy Body Newsletter!
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