"I used to have a 28-inch waist." I hear this complaint from women over 40 a lot, and I can sympathize. It was easier getting my waistline back after having two babies in my 30s than it is to maintain it now in my 40s (when hormonal changes may redirect fat from a woman's hips and thighs to her belly).
The fastest way to get the upper hand on your waist is to target the obliques—the large ab muscles that wrap around your torso and pull in your waistline like a corset does. Do 2 sets of each move, 3 nonconsecutive days a week, and your middle will look trimmer in about 6 weeks.
Twisting Knee Lift
A. Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold arms up in front of chest in a boxing stance. Using obliques to drive the movement, twist upper body to the right, then to the left as shown. Keep hips and legs forward.
B. As you rotate to right for third twist, raise right knee as shown. Lower right leg and twist left-right-left, raising left knee on third twist. Continue alternating knee lifts until you've done 12 reps on each leg.
MORE: 25 Slimming Sassy Water Recipes
Side Crunch
Lie on your left side and prop yourself up on your left elbow, keeping it directly beneath the shoulder. Place right hand behind head and bend knees, bringing feet off floor and rolling back onto left glute (where your jeans pocket would be).
Contract right obliques (side of torso) and pull knees and right elbow toward each other, bending at waist as shown. Hold for a second, then release and repeat. Do 12 reps, then switch sides and repeat. (Tone your body head-to-toe from the comfort of your living room with our new Fit in 10 DVD!)
Twisting Rollback
Sit tall with legs bent, feet flat on floor. Extend arms in front. Round spine and roll back one vertebra at a time onto tailbone as you twist torso to left, pulling left arm back, as shown.
Return to center and roll back up. Repeat on other side. Continue alternating sides until you've done 24 reps.
Quick tip: To showcase your newly sculpted abs, you need to burn off the fat that covers them. Combine these moves with at least 30 minutes of cardio three to five times a week.
