3 Best Stomach Exercises for Abs

Article by Abby Hill

Six pack abs may seem like a dream to someone who has a lot of weight to lose, but the fact is that strengthening your core using some of the best stomach exercises can help you quickly look thinner by pulling in your midsection and enhancing your posture so that you stand taller and straighter.

That initial boost and feeling of well-being has inspired many people to get serious to get serious about their health and take off their excess weight. Most of the best stomach exercises are easy to perform, with the targeting of the correct muscles being the most important part. In fact, it is so important that one of the exercises recommended below is designed to help you do just that. Master number one before moving on to the other best stomach exercises and you will find that your workouts are much more effective.

Muscle Isolation:

In this basic exercise, you are learning to isolate and strengthen the muscles that support your low back and lower abdomen, as well as build endurance. You will be flattening your lower back against the floor. Easy, right? Not if you do it correctly! Start the movement by lying on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Relax.

Six pack abs may seem like a dream to someone who has a lot of weight to lose, but the fact is that strengthening your core using some of the best stomach exercises can help you quickly look thinner by pulling in your midsection and enhancing your posture so that you stand taller and straighter. That initial boost and feeling of well-being has inspired many people to get serious to get serious about their health and take off their excess weight.

Most of the best stomach exercises are easy to perform, with the targeting of the correct muscles being the most important part. In fact, it is so important that one of the exercises recommended below is designed to help you do just that. Master number one before moving on to the other best stomach exercises and you will find that your workouts are much more effective.

Muscle Isolation:

In this basic exercise, you are learning to isolate and strengthen the muscles that support your low back and lower abdomen, as well as build endurance. You will be flattening your lower back against the floor. Easy, right? Not if you do it correctly!

Start the movement by lying on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Relax. The natural curve of your spine should leave a small gap between the floor and your lower back.

Now activate your lower abdominal muscles and flatten your lower back as much as possible to the floor.

Use only your ab muscles to create the motion, keep the pelvis and legs still.

Hold the contraction initially for 10 seconds, and do 12-15 reps.

Work on improving your ability to breathe deeply while also maintaining the contraction.

As the move becomes easier, increase the contraction time by 10 seconds each time you workout. Once you have worked up to two minutes, you have mastered it and can do two minutes each time, while reducing the reps if necessary.

Lying Leg Lifts

This is also one of the best stomach exercises. It is simple, gives you a great core workout without any weights, but it is tougher than it looks.

Lay flat on your back with your legs out straight.

Put your hands under your butt, palms down. This will help to support your back during the moves. (You should never feel pain in your back.)

Contract your ab muscles tightly and use them to raise your legs four-six inches from the floor. Breathe normally and focus on keeping your legs straight. Hold the contraction for ten seconds.

Lower your legs and rest for ten seconds.

Continue raising the contraction time and your strength increases, building up to the two minute mark. Do 12-15 reps per session.

Crunches

Crunches are one of the best stomach exercises, but keeping the abs contracted is vital.

Lie down on your back, knees bent, with your lower back flat to the floor, hands straight in the air, eyes locked on the ceiling. Completely flatten your ab muscles and pull the upper body off the floor using only those muscles to do so.

Breathe out as you pull up to empty the air from your abs.

Do this move very slowly and hold for ten seconds, increasing as you get stronger.

You can also use an exercise ball to do this instead of the floor, which adds a little extra challenge because of the balance requirements.

If you just do these three best stomach exercises daily for the next two weeks, you will be amazed at the difference in your midsection.The natural curve of your spine should leave a small gap between the floor and your lower back. Now activate your lower abdominal muscles and flatten your lower back as much as possible to the floor. Use only your ab muscles to create the motion, keep the pelvis and legs still. Hold the contraction initially for 10 seconds, and do 12-15 reps. Work on improving your ability to breathe deeply while also maintaining the contraction. As the move becomes easier, increase the contraction time by 10 seconds each time you workout. Once you have worked up to two minutes, you have mastered it and can do two minutes each time, while reducing the reps if necessary.

Lying Leg Lifts

This is also one of the best stomach exercises. It is simple, gives you a great core workout without any weights, but it is tougher than it looks. Lay flat on your back with your legs out straight. Put your hands under your butt, palms down. This will help to support your back during the moves. (You should never feel pain in your back.) Contract your ab muscles tightly and use them to raise your legs four-six inches from the floor. Breathe normally and focus on keeping your legs straight. Hold the contraction for ten seconds. Lower your legs and rest for ten seconds. Continue raising the contraction time and your strength increases, building up to the two minute mark. Do 12-15 reps per session.

Crunches

Crunches are one of the best stomach exercises, but keeping the abs contracted is vital. Lie down on your back, knees bent, with your lower back flat to the floor, hands straight in the air, eyes locked on the ceiling. Completely flatten your ab muscles and pull the upper body off the floor using only those muscles to do so. Breathe out as you pull up to empty the air from your abs. Do this move very slowly and hold for ten seconds, increasing as you get stronger. You can also use an exercise ball to do this instead of the floor, which adds a little extra challenge because of the balance requirements. If you just do these three best stomach exercises daily for the next two weeks, you will be amazed at the difference in your midsection.

About the Author

Abby of www.freeworkoutsforabs.com is an expert in natural health and fitness. Abby helps you to achieve maximum health and fitness in the most effective ways. Workouts for Abs resources and information for getting toned and healthy without having to sacrifice your lifestyle.