The finisher that burns belly fat

By the editors of Men's Health

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Here's a common concern if you're trying to lose that beer belly: If you build your abs before your gut's gone, will your belly just look fatter? The good news: Your six-pack won't look like a keg.

"Ab muscles don't grow all that much," says Dr Craig Rasmussen, a trainer at Results Fitness in Santa Clarita, California. "And if you're training and eating right, you should melt the fat around them—which is the real key to seeing your abs."

To burn fat fast, cap each workout with this intense finisher, or try it at home as a quick wake-up call to your body when you can't make it to the gym.

DIRECTIONS:

Do each exercise for 30 seconds with no rest between moves; then rest for two minutes. Complete the routine three times.

1. Mountain Climber

From a pushup position, bring your right knee as close to your chest as possible. Return to the starting position. Repeat with your left leg, alternating back and forth.

2. Body-Weight Squat

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body as far as you can. Pause, and push yourself back to the starting position.

3. Jumping Jack

Feet together and hands at your sides? Go: Simultaneously raise your arms above your head and jump just enough to spread your feet wide. Reverse the movement.

4. Pushup

Get down on all fours and extend your legs so your body forms a straight line from ankles to shoulders. Keep your core stiff as you lower your chest nearly to the floor. Push back up.

GALLERY: Supercharge your squat

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