8 Everyday Ways to Flatten Your Abs

Hours of crunches aren't the only key to a flat stomach. Simply sneak in a few minutes of these eight exercises every day, and you'll be on your way to tight, toned abs in no time.

    You think the old adage ‘no pain, no gain’ is totally true when it comes to your abs? Not so, says Paige Waehner, a Chicago-based personal trainer. There are plenty of ways you can engage your core all day long for fitness and weight loss — without hours of mat work at the gym or at home. With these tips, you can work your way to flatter abs while you’re on your way to work, while you’re at work, and when you’re relaxing at home. Even better, these eight moves are simple enough that they’re the perfect starter routine for any fitness level:

More Exercise Could Make For Better Sleep

Those getting 150 minutes' activity a week were less likely to report daytime fatigue.

    A new study suggests regular physical activity might encourage better shut-eye: People who met national exercise guidelines reported better sleep and less daytime fatigue than those who didn't.

The research doesn't confirm that exercise directly leads to improved rest, and it's possible there may be another explanation for the apparent connection between exercise and sleep. Still, the findings are mostly consistent with previous research, said Matthew P. Buman, an assistant professor of exercise and wellness at Arizona State University who's familiar with the study.

Does Exercising Have an Afterburn Effect?

Many gym rats believe they'll burn extra calories for hours after they've finished working out, but is the effect overstated?

    Need a reason to go to the gym? How about this: Some scientists suggest that one simple workout can actually cause you to burn calories at a higher rate hours after you leave the gym. But is it too good to be true? Depends which exercise scientists you ask.

Is Barefoot Running Really Better?

A growing number of runners are ditching their shoes to hit the trails barefoot or in minimalist shoes - even though the benefits haven't been proven. Should you join the minimalist movement?

    If you enjoy running, chances are good you’ve seen a fellow runner at a race or out on the road recently with a pair of sock-style minimalist running shoes - or running without any shoes at all. This trend, which was popularized by journalist Chistopher McDougall in his best-selling book Born to Run, is inspiring more and more runners to return to the roots of the sport and go barefoot.

8 Ways to Focus on Getting Fit

You know you should exercise more, but that won't always get you going. Here's how to devise and stick to an exercise program.

    Forty percent of all chronic diseases can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating a healthy diet and working out regularly. Yet Americans have become increasingly obese and sedentary. “People just aren’t making the connection between unhealthy lifestyle choices and disease risk,” says Alice Burron, MS, spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise and author of Four Weeks to Fabulous. Doctors often try to change people’s attitudes by emphasizing the health benefits of exercise. But a recent study at the University of Missouri, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that telling people why exercising is good for them doesn’t motivate them. People don’t “think” themselves into being more active and working out, the researchers concluded after studying data on close to 100,000 participants.