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4 Minutes To Flat Abs

February 17, 2015

By:

Erin Schrader

Well, we are knee deep into the #1800MinuteChallenge by now and I’m starting to see (and feel) my body change for the better. One of my biggest trouble areas is always my stomach – I am thinking my diet of macaroni and cheese, beer, and jalapeno chips could be to blame for this, but details schmetails. Whatever the cause, it’s always a “work in progress” zone. I thought it would be fun to share my four favorite ab exercises and show you all how in as little as 4 minutes you can get a great ab workout in. Want an even better ab workout? Do the following exercises for one minute each 3-4 times. While I don’t promise you won’t be sore, I do promise you will be happy with the results. 
1. Lets start with that exercise featured above — the weighted oblique crunch. All you need is a set of weights (I typically range from 8-15 pounds per hand). Stand straight up, feet hip width apart – bend only at the waist and bring your weight down to your knee area. As you stand back up straight, exhale. Repeat on the opposite side. Keep switching back and forth for one minute. This one may not feel all that difficult while you are doing it, however you will fill it in your obliques the next day. 
2. The plank. This exercise is one of my favorites for total body toning. Simply get into the push up position, and bend your elbows 90 degrees and rest your weight on your forearms. Your elbows should be directly under your shoulders and you should form a straight line from your head to your feet. Hold this position for as long as possible (with the goal of a minute). You will shake, cry, and then want to repeat it all over again. 

3. Bicycle Crunch. Another one of my favorites to work all ab muscles. Simply lay on the floor, place your hands behind your head, bring your knees up to a 90 degree angle, now bring your right elbow to your left knee while lifting your shoulders off the ground, and then rotate to the other knee. Perform for one minute.

4. Mountain Climbers. I’m pretty I have almost died several times doing these, but we all know that the near death experience means we are doing the right thing. Get into the push up position with your hands directly under your shoulders and with straight arms form a straight line from your head to your feet. Now bring your right knee into you chest while keeping your back flat. Return to the starting position and now bring your left knee into your chest. Continue alternating for one minute. 

By the end of all of this, you should feel somewhat like…..

But believe me, your abs will thank you come swimsuit season. 
These 4 exercises were inspired by the latest piece of technology I have been using (funny where inspiration comes from sometimes) – the HP x360 convertible PC. Just like my favorite ab exercises, you can use this baby four completely different ways and experience the same awesome results. Allow me to explain… 

The first way to use the HP x360 is in the normal laptop mode. This is how I choose to use it most often as I am a keyboard type of girl.

One of my favorite things about the x360 is because of it’s touch screen capability, it quickly becomes a tablet with one bend. Using a tablet makes me feel rather smart and with the 2000’s so I try to do this as often as possible 😉 I love that you can swipe all over the place to move from one program to another. 

The last two ways to use this flexible thing? In either tent or stand mode. Tent mode is pretty perfect for watching movies or TV shows as you can simply sit back and relax and take in all of the latest episodes of the Bachelor or anything else you missed out on. Easily convert tent mode to stand mode by setting it down on the keyboard.

HP is currently on tour with Meghan Trainor (who else constantly has “if your lips are movin…” in your head on repeat) for their #bendtherules campaign. They will be creating a fan generated documentary from Meghan’s “That Bass Tour”-  check out all of the details here.

So tell me, what’s your favorite ab exercise + what mode would you use the HP x360 in the most? It’s time to get both fit and flexible together..physically and technologically.

For your pinning pleasure…

Thank you to @HP for partnering on this #bendtherules post. All opinions are 100% my own. 

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