Did you spent too many nights at the beach bars this summer? Living in a resort town can be damaging to your midsection if you overindulge. September is now upon us, and it is sad to say that the summer of 2005 is over, and has most likely had an effect on your midsection. Now, look down at your tummy… are you impressed by what you see? If not, you are not alone; in fact the majority of the population's number one body complaint is that their abdominals aren't nearly as toned as they would like. Below are a few exercises as well as some life changes that are sure to help you lose your love handles, bust your gut, and define your abs. [Crunches] Think doing hundreds of crunches and sit-ups is the way to more-toned abs? One big misconception is that you have to do 200 sit ups/crunches a day to see results in your abdominals. It is the quality, not the quantity that counts in any form of exercise. So 200 sloppy crunches will produce nothing compared to 20 core-conscious moves. If you're not feeling resistance when you perform crunches, it's probably because you're making mistakes in technique. For instance, you may be crunching too quickly instead of taking two full seconds to rise and two to lower, or you may be lifting from your shoulders and neck rather than from your torso. [Stability Ball] A more-challenging exercise for the abs is the stability ball crunch. It requires your abdominals to function as stabilizers for your entire body and to work in conjunction with other muscle groups. [Modify your workout] Use a system of training that changes the exercises you do every six to eight weeks, so your abdominal muscles are constantly challenged, which speeds up the results. As a bonus, you'll never get bored by doing the same exercises over and over again. [Don't overdo it] Three workouts a week at the proper intensity, repetitions and form will get your abs in their best shape. [Beat the stress] The fat in the abdominal area functions differently than fat elsewhere in the body. It has a greater blood supply as well as more receptors for cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol levels rise and fall throughout the day, but when you're under constant stress, the amount of the hormone you produce remains elevated. With high stress and, consequently, high cortisol levels, more fat is deposited in the abdominal area since there are more cortisol receptors there. [Eat more protein] About 25-30 percent of the calories in each gram of protein are burned in digestion, compared to only 6-8 percent of the calories in carbs. You do the math! [Fill up on high-fiber foods] Consider them "good carbs." Their bulk takes up space in your stomach, helping you feel full and eat less. [Stay active] View any type of physical activity—even those you try to avoid, such as mowing the lawn, as a chance to burn fat and condition your body. (Just make sure you use a push mower.) [Hit the weights] If you don't like weight training, it's not as bad as you think—just 10 minutes a day of lifting, three days a week, will help. Thirty minutes of weight training per week has a greater reduction on waist size than almost any other variable. [Step on the scale at least once a day] Don't obsess over the number, but at least keep track of the general range of what you weigh so you can catch small changes as they occur and take corrective measures immediately. Simply incorporate a few of these tips into your life every day, and you'll finish off your fat easier and faster than you ever imagined possible.

By Casino Connection Staff