When you come across the words “exercises for abs,” you probably have these two words in mind: sit ups. I’m actually not surprised because sit ups are one of the most, if not the most, common forms of abdominal exercises in existence. I wouldn’t be surprised if my grandmother knew what they were.
Nevertheless, you need to recognize that there are other more effective exercises for building washboard abs than just sit ups. You need to mix them up, add some variety, and do them regularly for you to get fast results.
For a successful overall fitness plan, combine abdominal exercises with a healthy diet plan and a full body workout. If you work hard at keeping these three elements alive in your regular routine, you simply can’t go wrong.
Recent studies show that ball crunches, full body crunches, weighted sit ups, and bicycles are the 4 best exercises for abs. I’ll tell you why:
1. Bicycles. These exercises work not only your upper, lower, and side abdominals, but also other body parts such as the arms, lower back, and legs. For this exercise, you need to lie on the floor and touch your fingers to your ears. Bend at the knees and mimic a cycling movement in the air using your legs. When your left knee comes up, lift your torso off the floor, twist to the left, and touch it with your right elbow. Repeat on the other side.
2. Weighted Sit Ups. With these exercises for abs, your abs get pushed a little further through resistance training. They’re very similar to regular sit ups so they’re not complicated to do at all. All you need for this exercise are light to moderately heavy weight simulators, like a pair of 1 lb. dumbbells or a hardbound book, which you will need to hold over your chest with your hands. Proceed by lifting your torso upward, holding it there for a few seconds, and coming back down, just like with regular sit ups.
3. Full Body Crunches. Like bicycles, this exercise targets almost the entire abdominal area and works your limbs as well. All you have to do is lie on the floor, bend both knees, and cross your arms over your chest. Lift your torso up the floor and pull in both knees at the same time. Go back down and start all over.
4. Ball Crunches. These exercises for abs are responsible for working your entire core while promoting balance. You’ll have a lot of fun with this one, I promise. To start off, sit on an exercise ball. Roll the ball underneath until your back is resting on it and your thighs are parallel to the floor. Start doing regular crunches – you’ll instantly feel the added tension since you’re performing them on an unstable surface. The ball’s just there to provide lower back support and make it a little more challenging.
Work these 4 basic exercises for abs into your fitness program and you can bid farewell to excess belly fat for good.
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