Denise Austin Shares ‘Low-Impact’ Moves for ‘Menopause Belly’
Denise Austin shared two exercises to target “menopausal belly.”
The 67-year-old demonstrated “standing ab moves” that you can do “anytime, anywhere.”
Austin includes a “low-impact” exercise and an option with “light weights.”
As women transition through the stages of menopause, there are various symptoms to navigate. Hot flashes, menopause brain fog, and menopause facial hair are just a few. Thankfully, fitness icon Denise Austin regularly shares menopause tips to help her audience embrace and overcome these changes. Most recently, Austin shared core-focused moves to help women lose weight after menopause and target what some call “menopausal belly.”
It all starts with the abdominal muscles. “Let’s work our ABS today!! Two quick moves that you can do anytime, anywhere to whittle down that menopause belly!! These are both standing ab moves, so you don’t even have to get down on the floor!” Austin captioned her video, along with signature hashtags like #FitOver50 and #WorkoutMotivation.
In the video, Austin demonstrates two core moves to help tone the abs and boost metabolism. Below, we break down exactly how to perform each one.
Low-impact high knees
The first exercise is a low-impact move to target the waistline. To perform the move, Austin begins by standing with her feet shoulder-width apart and her hands on her hips. She then alternates marching on each leg, bringing a knee up to waist height before repeating on the other side. After a few repetitions, she brings her arms up next to her ears connecting the opposite elbow with the opposite knee with each march. “Add your upper body to make it harder—the more muscles you use the more calories you burn!” Austin says in the clip. She repeats this alternating high-knee movement for one minute before moving right into the next exercise.
Standing cross-body crunch
Next, Austin transitions to a standing crunch variation. She begins with her feet planted slightly wider than hip-width distance apart and her arms above her head. She then lifts her left knee toward the right side of her body while lowering her arms down in a crunching movement to touch her right elbow to her knee. After placing the left leg down, she repeats by bringing her right knee to the left elbow. She also demonstrates how you can “hold light weights to really kick this move up a notch.” To do so, she simply holds a pair of dumbbells in her hands while keeping the rest of the exercise the same. She repeats this movement, swiftly alternating her legs, for one minute.
Looking for even more moves to add to your ab routine? Luckily, Austin previously shared a few other exercises she likes to perform to target “menopausal belly.”
Wood chop
Austin previously demonstrated this core exercise for “menopausal belly” called the wood chop. At the time, Austin shared “how tough that stubborn menopause belly can be” and the importance of core exercises like this one. This move, she explained, “works your entire core—abs, obliques, back, and shoulders.”
To perform the move, Austin stands with her feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart before bending her right knee towards the ground, clasping her hands out in front of her, and reaching them towards her front foot, both knees forming 90-degree angles. Then, she stands up, reaching her arms overhead on the opposite side of her body. “Tighten up those abs. Push down and reach up!” she explains. “Drive through your heel to your hip.” She instructs viewers to perform the move 30 times on each side.
Kickboxing punches
In another video, Austin shared “fun” kickboxing moves for “menopause belly.” One of these exercises emulates kickboxing punches that target the core by engaging the abdominal muscles throughout.
She begins the move by standing firmly on the ground with her feet shoulder-width apart and her fists in front of her, just below her chin. She then performs punching movements (as if there were a kickboxing bag or partner in front of her) while slightly pivoting on her toes with each punch. “You’re gonna strike it to the side and really tighten up those abs. I feel it in my tummy right now!” she explains, advising viewers to perform the move for one minute.
We can always count on Austin to give us the best exercise recommendations, and we can’t wait to see what the fitness pro shares next. Until then, catch even more Austin-recommended moves below.
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