By: Juzaily Ramli

The leg bone's connected to the hip bone... Yes, we all know that kids' song. But how many of us really think about it? Of course we all know how the bones are all connected. The point is this; all the parts of our body are interconnected. All parts of our body are related somehow. Case in point, our back and our stomach muscles are also related as they form some sort of girdle around our lower torso. And these muscles affect one another. Ah ha, did you think about that? So that means that how your tummy looks depends also on how you stand and sit, that is your posture. In addition, this means that the strength of your stomach also affects your posture.

Straight up!

Want to lose that belly? Stand up straight. Sit up straight. See the difference? Standing and sitting up straight will affect you immediately. First thing to remember, slouching does nothing for you except to draw attention to your belly fat. So just by sitting up straight, you will be seen a lot slimmer. Secondly, having proper posture will improve the strength of your back, which in turn makes it a lot easier to maintain this proper posture for longer periods of time. Thirdly, if you have poor posture, you will always experience back pain, and back pain makes stomach exercises all the more difficult for you. Practising good posture will make it a lot easier for you to target that tummy and help you easily eliminate belly fat. And finally, having good posture by standing and sitting up straight enhances your blood circulation. Your blood will flow properly throughout your body, especially to your legs and lower back, both important parts in your body when it comes to stomach exercises.

The back extension

If you have read and practiced the 'crunchless crunch' you will find this somewhat familiar except that it is backwards. First lie on your stomach and place your forehead on the floor. You can use a mat or towel to cushion your head and pelvis. Place your arms by your sides with the palms facing upwards. Now, contract your back muscles and slowly lift your torso off the floor. Hold this contraction for a while and release. Slowly return to starting position with your torso back down on the floor. Now repeat for an entire set.

For this next part, imagine you're a superhero and extend your arms out above your head. While keeping your head and arms in place, lift both your legs simultaneously off the floor. Imagine that your legs are growing longer as you lift them off the floor. Hold them in that position for a while, then lower them slowly back down to the floor.

These two exercises can assist you in strengthen your back and correcting your posture. These are steps that you can take towards losing that unsightly bulge round your middle. You can continue working on your back muscles coupled with other core muscles like the rectus abdominus and the transverse. When you choose stomach exercises that work the core muscles, you can be sure that they will help you to straighten your posture, make sure you lose that belly fat and help you gain defined toned muscles in your back and your tummy. Remember though, be sure you consult with a professional before you begin any exercise and always warm up properly to avoid injury.