Let's face it, everyone wants to have a great set of abs but not everyone will put forth the effort it takes to achieve them. For many of us the main ingredient we lack is time. It takes time to build a great body or even stay fit in today's society. There are many stomach exercise routines that do not require a lot of our time. Five to ten minutes daily can drastically increase our abdominal strength. In this article we will discuss some simple abdominal workouts that will meet our needs and our schedules.
One of the first steps toward getting and maintaining a strong healthy midsection is to set your self a schedule and stick to it. By setting a workout schedule you will in turn make the necessary steps needed to set aside time for your exercises. It is also good to have a partner for your workouts which in turn will keep you accountable for your workout schedule. Choose a partner you can count on and one who will motivate you to excel in your exercise routine.
Crunches are one of the best ways to gain abdominal strength and get your abs to show them selves. Starting with this simple exercise will help you gain strength for more intense abdominal training. Crunches will work the whole abdomen and give your abs balance and overall strength. Crunches can also be done in various ways and from and incline position to a decline position. This may not be your favorite ab workout but it is proven affective.
Flutter kicks can also be a great way to expose your abdominal muscles and get them tone. The reason flutter kicks are great is due to the fact that they keep constant pressure on your abdominal area in turn increasing your stomach muscle endurance and strength. When performing flutter kicks be sure to keep your feet no farther than six to eight inches from the ground and your back and head leaning forward to put pressure on your abdomen. Keep your kicks quick and short working them in a scissor like motion.
One of the best ways to strengthen your stomach is to run. Running can really help you to gain the extra endurance needed to perform your abdominal exercises. It is an iatrical part of body's need for exercise. Though it may not be your favorite thing to spend your time doing it will benefit you beyond measure. Use what you have available to run, your neighborhood or when your children are practicing in their own sports you could be exercising instead of being a bleacher warmer. Use your time wisely and make the best of your day to reach your fitness goals.
If you do have a partner there are a few great exercises that two people can do together. One is a medicine ball. Stand back to back and hand the medicine ball off to each other from side to side. This will really work your abs hard and give them a great range of strength. One of the best exercises for you to do with a partner would be for one of you to lie on your back with your feet extended toward the sky, lower your feet and have your partner push them from side to side working your abdominals through resistance training. This can really increase your stomach strength. If you have weights available to you try getting in the sit up position and have your partner hand you weights to hold across your chest. Now you can perform regular sit ups with added weight increasing your abdominal strength.
Stomach tightening exercises at work or at home can also be of benefit to you when pressed for time. Tighten your abdominal muscles for ten to twenty seconds at a time and then release them, repeat this several times. This is better than nothing and can give you a way of working your abs and getting a better healthier midsection.
Take these well known tips and put them to action and you will be on the road to a great set of abs!
Ab Exercises With Weights
Crunches are an overused and under productive exercise. They present a considerable risk to the health of your lower back and spine and only work a limited range of your core muscles. They never have and never will burn fat off of our 'stomach' or midsection and if you do enough of them will simply cause you to grow bigger and stronger abs muscles without working your lower back and oblique muscles. Doing excessive amounts of crunches could very well lead to imbalanced abs and core development as well as potential lower back and spine pain and problems. Here are 5 exercises that work your abs and core in better, safer and more balanced positions than any crunch can.
1. Stability Ball Roll Outs:
Kneeling on the ground in an upright position with your elbows on a stability ball. Roll the ball out in front of you extending your body and arms as far as you can go. Keep your back, spine, and body from your shoulders to your knees straight like a board or plank. Hold the extended position for a second or two. Pull yourself back to the starting position
This exercise works your abs, lower back and core all at once. You can keep your spine straight and stable throughout the whole exercise which makes this very safe for your spine and lower back.
2. Planks:
Lie face down on the ground Get up into a push up position resting on your feet and hands (you can also rest on your elbows instead of your hands.) Hold this position for a timed interval keeping your spine and body straight like a board or plank. Start with a manageable time like 30 seconds working up to 60-70 seconds as you get better at them.
This exercise works all the muscles of our core and keeps your spine stable and straight.
3. Side Planks:
Lying on the ground on your side. Stabilize your body on one hand (or elbow) and your feet. Keep your body rigid and straight like a board or plank. Hold this position for a timed interval. Switch and do the other side in the exact same fashion
This exercise will work your oblique (side abs muscles) harder as well as working your abdominal muscles and lower back muscles. This exercise also allows for you to keep your spine straight and keeps your back safe from injury.
4. Mountain Climbers:
In a push up position. Bend one leg bringing the knee up to your chest (you can also touch your opposite elbow to that knee for added work.) Alternate each leg and arm in a climbing type of motion. Keep your back straight throughout the movement.
This is an advanced exercise that works the core muscles similar to a plank with the added work of moving your legs and arms.
5. Stability Ball Pikes:
In a push up position with your feet on a stability ball Keeping your back and legs straight no bending at the knees pull the ball toward your body. You should end up in a pike position with your hands on the floor your butt elevated in the air, bending at the waist only, knees straight. Slowly roll the ball back to the starting position
This exercises also works all the muscles of your core without putting your lower back in a compromised position.
These are just a few examples of ways to work your 'core' and abs without ever doing a crunch. Each one of these exercises works all the muscles of your core in a more balanced way than a crunch and also allows you to keep your spine and lower back in a safer position.
Both M. Spencer & John Barban are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
M. Spencer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness. Thank you for reading this article and I hope that it helps you obtain your fitness goals for your life!M. Spencerhttp://www.stomachexercises4. M. Spencer's top article generates over 590 views. Bookmark M. Spencer to your Favourites.
John Barban has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Online Business and Cardio Training. John Barban is a professional strength and conditioning coach and nutrition expert. He has extensive experience designing nutritional supplements and has developed his trademark workout for women 6 Minute Circuits. John is an expert contributor to. John Barban's top article generates over 12100 views. Bookmark John Barban to your Favourites.
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