Pulse Up

The Pulse Up may sound like a new workout system, but it’s actually one of the simpler stomach fat burning exercises you can do. It provides users with a way to tone their entire core, targeting the rectus abdominis, which is actually a pair of elongated muscles that run down the core until they reach the pubic crest. While most people want to tone and strengthen their core because it looks good, the truth is having a toned and strong core can improve posture and alignment, while enhancing athletic performance, building back strength, and reducing back pain.

There are several variations of this exercise you can do, but let’s start off by taking a look at how to do the basic version of the Pulse Up first. Once you have this version down, the others will be easier. That said, we should let you know that the Pulse Up actually uses the hips and legs to create resistance to tone the core. To get started, lay down on your back on the floor or a mat, extending your legs out, and letting your arms relax along the side of your body.

At this point, press your back into the floor, ever so gently and tighten your core muscles as you begin lifting your legs until they are directly over your hips. Now your body is in a 90 degree angle, and you’re ready to use your ab muscles to lift your hips up off the ground for two or three inches. Hold that position for three seconds, and then lower your hips. You then repeat this exercise until you’ve done the prescribed number of reps. Some experts suggest starting off by doing a set of 15.

Once you have the basic Pulse Up done, you can try doing it with a rotation, so while you’re still using your legs and hips to create resistance, your core muscles get a very different kind of challenge. Trainers often use variations to prevent plateauing so that your workout can grow and you can continue to reduce stomach fat and build core strength. To do this exercise, you begin in the same supine position as with the basic version, bringing your legs up over your hips to create that 90 degree angle.

You then use your abs to bring the hips 2 or 3 inches up off the floor, but instead of simply holding this position, you then turn your toes toward the right, hold that position for 3 seconds, bring your hips down, and repeat. Here too trainers typically suggest doing 15 reps. Once you do the right side, repeat on the left side.