Best Way to Great Abs

Despite what you have heard over the years, there really are very simple techniques to acquiring that flat stomach you have always wanted. It really just comes down to your willingness to do the exercises. Trust me, they are not that difficult and you will enjoy them. You will also realize that with just a little effort and proper technique, these exercises will begin to yield tremendous results in a very reasonable period of time.

The first and perhaps my all time favourite exercise for firming up the belly is known as the plank. This may very well be the simplest exercise you ever attempt. Get yourself into a standard push up position. This means you are lying face down on the floor with your hands palms down slightly more than shoulder width apart. Push up so that your arms are extended and you are supporting yourself on your hands and toes as if you have completed one standard push up. Now lower yourself down onto your elbows while keeping your abs firm and your legs straight so that you are now holding yourself up in push up position supported by your elbows and toes. Thus holding your body in the form of a plank and hence the name. Maintain this position for approximately thirty seconds then relax. It may not sound like much but repeat it a few times and you will feel and see remarkable results.

The next exercise is the scrunch. Return to the push up position as described in the earlier exercise. Bring one knee up towards your chest, while dragging your toe across the ground. Do your best to keep your body straight and your abs tight during the move. Then return your leg to its' starting position and do the opposite leg. Repeat the alterations ten to fifteen times on each side or until you are fatigued. This will strengthen your core and help improve endurance for the muscles in your upper body.

For the next exercise you will need to lie flat on your back. Bend your knees up and lift your feet off the floor so that they are in line with your knees making your calves parallel with the floor. Place your hands across your chest. Now slowly lift your head off the ground towards your knees so that you feel your abdominal muscles working. This is the classic crunch. There are a number of variations to this exercise and they are all pretty good for your abdominal muscles. You can do it by bending your knees and keeping your feet on the floor. When returning to the starting position try not letting your shoulder blades quite touch the floor. This adds a continuous challenge to your abdominals. Try to do the repetitions slowly without rocking your body, allowing your stomach muscles to do all the work.

Finally, another favourite exercise of mine is the leg lift. Lie down flat on your back as you did in the above exercise with your arms by your sides, palms flat against the floor. Now slowly lift your feet off the ground approximately a foot while keeping your legs perfectly straight. Now lower your legs to the starting position but don't let your feet touch the ground. Keep your heels above the ground a few inches at all times and then lift up again. This will continue to work the lower abdominals and is a great exercise to round out the abdominal work out outlined above.

Now many "experts" and magazines will give you a number of variations to the exercises I have highlighted above. They will also recommend a number of more advanced exercises with higher levels of difficulty that basically do the same thing, that is strengthen your core muscles. However, here is the real secret. In order to get that dream abdominal look and washboard stomach you must absolutely incorporate cardiovascular exercise. All the exercises that you will hear about will strengthen your abdominals but you won't be able to see them until you burn off the fat around your middle. The best way to do that is cardiovascular workouts. So chose one that you can really enjoy and try to do it three times a week. Running, walking, jogging and skipping are all great forms of cardio exercise. The key is to get your heart rate up so that you can burn calories and fat.

That is everything you need to know about getting the abs you have always dreamed about. If you don't exercise regularly make sure to consult your doctor before starting. He/she will definitely recommend a healthy regiment. Have fun and best of luck.