Get A Flat Tummy Effortlessly

Power up your fitness regime with these training tips that will help kick things up a notch and get you that taut tummy fast

- Helen Foster

You’re diligently turning up for your Pilates class or heading out for regular runs, but aren’t quite getting the results you want or the fitness boost you’d like. Maybe it’s time to give your workout a shake-up with one of these tricks from PTs.

1 BOOST YOUR TRAINING

• Ask someone to film you running Look at it in slow motion and check which part of your foot hits the ground first. “Landing on your forefoot is the most efficient way to run and improves performance,” says running coach and elite endurance runner Matty Abel. If you’re landing heel first, adjust your stride so the ball of your foot hits the ground first. If you can’t get the hang of it, a session with a running coach can help your technique.

• Count your strides

You should be aiming to take 30 to 37 every 10 seconds. “No matter how fast they run, the best runners have a cadence (leg turnover) of 180 to 200 strides a minute,” says trainer Kylie Edwards. “Most runners need to shorten their stride to reach this – shortening your stride makes you more efficient and reduces stress on the hamstrings.”

• See some sky

“Looking down while running is bad for posture but, more importantly, it impinges on your breathing,” says Marie Bean. “Lift your eyes higher and you open up your face, mouth, nose and windpipe. The easiest way to do this is aim to look at high landmarks like the sky, trees or bridges as you run, and if you’re running behind someone, look over their head, not at their back or shoes.”

• Leave all your apps and trackers at home