Ab Workouts for Women

Gym memberships are pricey. You’ll struggle to find one for less than $50 and some cost as much as $200 each month. Luckily, you don’t need a gym, treadmill or workout class to get fit. You can simply alter your lifestyle slightly and watch as you grow lean, strong muscles in your abs and the rest of your body. Here’s how to get abs without forking over hundreds to use a treadmill.

Amp up your core power.

If I have one word of advice for how to get abs, it’s this: set aside time for strength training. You don’t need a gym to workout. Core strengthening can happen in your living room while you catch on up on the news or wait for dinner to bake. Try to exercise your abs at least every other day, for 20 minutes each day. Whether that means crunches, planks or pushups is up to you. Looking for new inspiration? My fellow coaches at Ab Workouts for Women have some great exercises up their sleeves.

Walk, jog or bike to work.

You’ve got to get there anyways so, if you live close enough, why not walk, jog or bike to work? As this trend becomes more and more popular, offices all over the country are beginning to install bathrooms with showers and changing rooms. This way, employees can get fit, shower and get set to start their day.  

Swap burgers and steak for leaner proteins.

Protein is essential, especially for those looking to strengthen their abs and improve their bodies overall. It helps us gain and maintain muscles. A 150-pound person requires anywhere between 55 and 68 grams of protein every day. Swapping out burgers, steaks and beef in general for leaner meats, such as chicken and turkey breasts, will help cut fat and cholesterol, while still getting the protein you need.

Eat more non-meat proteins.

But meat isn’t everything. Americans are notorious for consuming way too much animal protein. There are other ways to get protein and many of them will also help your body get important vitamins, while slimming your waistline. Try upping your bean and lentil intake (Health pro tip: if you drain cans of beans before cooking, you’ll decrease their sodium level by 40 percent). Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, also offer huge amounts of protein for relatively small serving sizes. Keep portions of these small since they are high in fat.

Join a running group

Not only does running help shed the fat blocking abs, but it also builds a strong core. If you don’t want to join a gym and you’re not a runner, it’s probably because you don’t love to run the way some fitness fiends do. Don’t worry; you don’t have to be super fit to have fun jogging. Join a running group. That way, you’ll make friends while you work out and the time will fly by. Meetup.com is a great place to start.