There are several exercises that you can do to improve your abdominal muscles; however, they are not all created equal. Some of them work other areas of your body in addition to your abdominals, so if you are in search of the best exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles, you’ll want to start by performing the following three. They are the best and most effective. They include the traditional crunch, the v-up, and leg lifts. In order for these exercises to be effective, they must be done properly. When combined with a healthy diet and cardio exercise, these abdominal exercises will tighten and define your abs resulting in that six-pack you have always wanted.
In order to execute the traditional crunch, you must be lying on your back, arms at your sides, palms flat on the floor. Your legs can either be bent at the knees or lying flat on the floor. To start, pull your abdominal muscles toward your spine, exhale while simultaneously leaning forward, reaching with your arms until your shoulder blades are off the floor. Hold for a few seconds, lie back down without letting your head touch the floor and repeat for at least two to three sets with eight to ten reps in each set. T
he next exercise is the v-up. For this exercise, lie onto the floor in a supine position, arms reaching above your head and legs straight out. Again, pull your abdominal muscles toward your spine, exhale while bringing your arms and legs straight up. Make every attempt to touch your hands to your legs and hold for several seconds before releasing. Upon the release, lie back down with great control. Repeat this exercise for two to three sets with eight to ten reps in each set.
The last exercise is leg lifts. You must be lying on your back, arms at your sides, palms facing downward. The legs should be lying straight out onto the floor, knees should not be bent. Pull your abdominal muscles toward your spine and exhale while pulling your legs upward until your toes are pointing towards the ceiling and then lower with great control. Keep repeating until you are no longer comfortable, but attempt to complete at least two to three sets with eight to ten reps per set. These are the best exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
There are several things to keep in mind while performing these exercises. The first is to breathe. It’s very important to make sure you are taking in enough oxygen during exercise. The second is to remember quality is better than quantity, so make sure you’re doing the exercise properly; and the third is to try not to tense up your facial muscles and to keep your shoulders flat while completing the exercise.
In my home gym I also have the ab roller. It is great for achieving good positioning for crunches and leg lifts. You often see these at Bally’s, 24-hour Fitness or Gold’s Gym. It’s a great addition to any home gym. I highly recommend this one. It’s the one I use. It’s reasonably priced and effective. Ab Trainer Pro
One of the best ways to get started is to have a few sessions with a personal trainer to ensure that you are performing the exercises properly. Here’s a link for a great discount at 24-hour Fitness Three 50-minute personal training sessions for $129.
In closing, these exercises are very functional and effective in developing the core and are among the best exercises to strengthen abdominal muscles.Make sure to try them and if you perform them diligently and with dedication, you will succeed.
