Fab abs – the new regime

1 Don’t go hungry: Drastically reducing calories burns fat at first, but eventually your body slows down to conserve energy and you actually gain body fat around your middle. 2 Don’t focus solely on the abs: squats and lunges are among the best exercises for a lean middle. Because they are great calorie-burners, they reduce all- over body fat to reveal muscles beneath. 3 Do HIIT: Most experts agree that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) should be the groundwork for any ab- defining programme. This involves short bursts (try 20 seconds) of flat- out activity with exercises such as burpees, hill sprints or Jump squats followed by a brief rest (40 seconds) for only 5-20 minutes in total. 4 Avoid endless crunches: They work only the front of your abdominal muscles and neglect the sides. A variety of ab exercises is crucial for the supertoned look. 5 Vary your ab moves: Pilates is a good starting point, but include everything from the side plank and Superman moves to the 100 and leg raise. Boredom is an enemy of the abs, so be inventive. Joe Wicks, thebodycoach.co.uk; Julia Buckley, Juliabuckley.co.uk; Mari Winsor, winsorfit.com