1. Tummy Isometric Crunch - exhale, then suck in your stomach as far as you can, hold for about 15 seconds. Relax and breathe. Visualize moving your bellybutton straight toward your back. Holding in your tummy muscles and tensing your abs is a good way of firming and strengthening them. You will also become more aware of how to control your tummy muscles. Repeat several times. This exercise can be done anywhere, anytime.

Note - if you have high blood pressure, do not hold your breath for extended periods of time.

2. Rectus Abdominis Tummy Exercises (sounds great, no?):

a. Lie on your back on floor with bent knees and your feet flat on floor, knees and feet spread apart width of your hips.

b. Place your hands gently on sides of your head for support, spreading your elbows so you cannot see them.

c. With your chin tucked toward your chest, gently curl upward and forward so that your head, neck and shoulder blades lift off floor and your lower back presses against floor (if you want, start with your head resting on a pillow which has your head and neck in correct position to begin).

d. Pause just a moment, then gently return to starting position.

e. Repeat several times.

Note - do not use your arms to complete curl. If you can see your elbows, you're cheating. Do not put your feet under anything since this lessens effectiveness of these types of flat tummy exercises. If this female abs exercise is too difficult for you, do next one below.

3. Sit-Back Flat Tummy Exercises - if your female abs muscles are weak and you have trouble lifting yourself off floor in #2 above, here is an alternate flat tummy exercise for you:

With a few minor adjustments it is possible to get exercise that is suggested and not go out of your way or spend money at gym!

When you think about exercising, have you ever wondered how you can fit it into your already busy day? That is what always crosses my mind…where do I work it in? Even a 30 minutes a few times a week sounds like a lot of time to spare when dinner needs to be cooked and house needs to be cleaned, not to mention errands to run and mandatory work functions to attend.

One of my coworkers, due to advice from her doctor, began to work her recommended dose of exercise into her daily routine successfully by making small shifts to her daily life. It makes sense – especially to some of us that are pressed for time already. Here is how it all began for her.