Build your core muscles, tighten your midsection and improve your overall appearance with a good ab exercise routine. Upper abs, lower abs and obliques should all be targeted to get the best results. You can perform this workout every day, but do it at least three times a week. These exercises are very good for giving you a slim middle and a flat stomach, they will not necessarily give you the big six pack seen on bodybuilders – only an intense workout done only a few days a week will give you that.
Combine your ab workout with a cardio and weight lifting routine for the best results. Read reviews here of programs that incoroporate all three elements.
Use good form when completing 3 sets of as many repetitions as you can perform.
1. Sit Ups – works lower abs the most, but also upper abs and a little of obliques
2. Leg Raises – works lower abs the most, but also upper abs and a little of obliques
3. Crunch – works mainly lower abs, also lower back
Combining a crunch and a leg raise is a more difficult move you can do. Be sure to maintain control, lift only your shoulders off the floor and keep tension only on your abdominals.
4. Knee Ins – works mainly lower abs and also upper abs and obliques.
Combine this move with a crunch or hold a weight between your feet to make it more difficult.
For a full description of how to do these exercises, read A Simple Ab Workout Routine. Start with only one set of as many repetitions as you can perform if you are an absolute beginner.
Try using bodyweight exercises to Work several muscles all at the same time and build your entire core. These exercises burn fat faster because they work many body parts while also working your abdominals. Make bodyweight exercises more difficult by adding weights – holding dumbbells at your side or using ankle or waist weights for example. Some good bodyweight exercises to try are push ups, the plank, the side plank, the quadraped crunch, the wall squat and jumping jacks. See how to complete these bodyweight exercises in Body Toning Exercises.
