How to Slim Down Your Stomach With Resistance Bands

Slimming down your stomach takes a combination of eating healthily, engaging in the equivalent of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three to five days per week, and strengthening the abdominal muscles. Resistance bands can help with the latter by providing resistance for stomach strengthening exercises, which in turn helps to make the abs -- the transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis and the inner and outer obliques --stronger. The low cost, versatility and portability of resistance bands makes it easy to work your abs wherever you happen to be.

Things You'll Need

  • Exercise mat
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Instructions

    • 1

      Warm up with five to 10 minutes of light to moderate cardiovascular exercise before starting your abdominal workout. Warming up helps to raise your body temperature while it gets the blood flowing to your muscles. Choose activities such as jumping rope, jogging or riding the stationary bicycle.

    • 2

      Choose the right resistance band level. Resistance bands come in a variety of tensions, ranging from flexible to difficult. Lighter colored bands have more give to them, while darker colors will provide a greater amount of resistance. New exercisers should start with lighter bands and increase the resistance as you become stronger.

    • 3

      Perform the tubing half-teaser to strengthen your transversus abdominis and rectus abdominis. Lie on your back on an exercise mat. Bend your right knee and place the foot flat on the floor. Lift your left leg and extend the foot toward the ceiling. Fold the resistance band in half and place the center around the arch of the left foot. Pull your abdominal muscles in toward your lower back. Lift your head, shoulders and upper torso off the floor. Hold the contraction at the top of the exercise for one to three counts and then roll down to starting position. Complete eight repetitions and repeat with the right leg extended toward the ceiling.

    • 4

      Improve your core strength with flutter kicks. Sit on an exercise mat and place one handle of a resistance band on each foot. Grasp the center of the band with both hands. Lie back on the mat. Lift both legs off the floor and extend them toward the ceiling. Pull your abdominal muscles in toward your lower back and press the shoulders down and away from your ears. Point your toes and lower your right leg by 12 to 24 inches and then raise it again toward the ceiling. Lower the left leg by 12 to 24 inches as you are raising the right leg, to engage in a kicking motion. Lifting the left leg back to starting position marks one repetition; complete 10 to 15 reps.

    • 5

      Stretch your stomach muscles with the upward salute pose immediately following your abdominal workout. Stand tall with your feet together. Stack your shoulders over your hips, lift the chest and push the shoulder blades down your back. Pull your abdominal muscles in toward your spine. Lift your arms out to the sides and bring the palms together over your head. Tilt your head back to gaze up at your hands. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor to prevent the pelvis from moving forward. Lift the rib cage to feel the stretch in your stomach. Hold for three full breaths; inhale through the nose for a count of five and exhale through the nose for a count of five. Lower your arms slowly to return to starting position.