The #1 Workout To Lose Your Beer Gut for Good, Trainer Says

Let's get real: Summertime barbecues are the best. Burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, and chilled beer are staples to get excited about on every picnic table. The resulting dreaded beer belly after indulging a little too much? Not so appealing. You can't beat yourself up over enjoying extra goodies at seasonal gatherings, but there's something you can do. Start this #1 trainer-approved workout, and lose your beer gut once and for all!

Eat This, Not That! received the best advice and workout regimen from Fyt personal trainer, Dan Amzallag. (For those who didn't know, Fyt is the nation's largest personal training service that makes fitness under the expert guidance of an in-person or virtual, certified fitness professional convenient and accessible for anyone.) Amzallag explains, "A calisthenic routine with exercise is best to avoid putting too much strain on your muscles." He adds, "Too much weight on the midsection would put too much pressure on the lower back to keep itself standing straight up (and not tilted forward). Doing crunches can be challenging because there is much visceral fat in the region."

It's common to put on extra weight when your body has not been active for a long period of time. This causes your muscles to weaken, which puts them at risk for injury. "The key is to use your body weight to create progressive resistance and not add too much weight that can cause injuries," Amzallag says. He suggests certain calisthenic exercises, as they will target your large muscle groups.

This is an excellent workout that Amzallag recommends to help you lose your beer gut for good. Check it out below, and next, be sure to read The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

Sit-ups

Performing sit-ups will directly target your abs. Begin on your back, and bend your knees. Keep your elbows open and position your hands behind your head. Activating your core, bring your head, upper back, and shoulders off the floor, and focus on bringing your chest towards both knees. Hold this position for one second, then gradually bring your upper body to the floor. Your core should be performing the lifting. You want to lower to target the core properly, rather than your shoulders or back. Repeat this exercise for 4 sets of 10 reps.

Planks

Begin your plank position on all fours. Stay balanced on your toes while straightening your legs back. Be sure your core is activated so you achieve full benefits. Remain in this position for 30 to 60 seconds, then take a 30-second rest. Repeat 3 times. You can slowly add on more time to improve your endurance and challenge your body.

Burpees

burpee exercise to get rid of your beer gut — Shutterstock

Begin this exercise by standing with your feet hip-width distance apart. Bend over, placing your hands on the floor. Then, jump both feet back so that you end up in a plank position. An added bonus is to perform a pushup at this point with both knees on (or off) the floor. If you decide to go this route, bend both your elbows so that they're pointed away from your body until it's a few inches above the floor. Return to a plank. Next, jump your feet up towards your hands while lifting your upper torso back up so that you're standing. In one quick movement, jump up towards the sky, keeping both hands over your head. When you land, assume the starting position. Complete 3 more sets of 10 to 15 reps.