To whittle your middle, grow tree trunks for legs.
Muscular legs can help you fend off belly fat, according to a study from Japan. People with the most muscle mass on their legs had the least visceral fat—the dangerous kind that surrounds organs.
Related: The 6 Secrets to Transforming Your Legs—and Ultimately Your Whole Body
Compared with smaller muscles, your leg muscles burn more fat before it can deposit around your organs, explains study author Michio Shimabukuro, M.D., Ph.D.
Start melting your middle by adding these three lower-body exercises to your routine today.
(If you’re looking for a full-on belly blasting routine, check out the 21-DAY METASHRED from Men’s Health—an at-home body-shredding program that strips away fat and reveals hard muscle.)
Dumbbell Squat
Barbell Split Squat
Kettlebell Side Lunge and Touch
