Fit Tip Thursday: The Three-Minute Ab-Shredding Workout

It's February, which means hearts for Valentine's Day, as well as heart awareness month. What many people still don't realize is that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined.

That's the bad news. The good news is that many of the causes of heart disease are lifestyle-related, and therefore preventable. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are two simple ways we can help maintain a healthy heart for many years to come.

Excess abdominal fat significantly increases the risk of heart disease, so having a flat stomach is not simply an issue of vanity. Healthy abdominals are created by a combination of burning calories through cardiovascular activity, building lean metabolically-active muscle through strength training, eating a balanced and healthy diet, and performing core exercises.

Here is a great, quick abdominal routine that you can do just a few times a week to help maintain a healthy heart:

Like what you see? Watch more Fit Tip Thursdays for great tips to help enhance your workouts