Lose Stomach Fat with These Effective Ab Exercises - "8 Minute Abs"

Lets be completely honest - most people hate working out their abs. Working out your abs is generally very intense, moreso when compared to other body parts such as your arms. This is generally due to the fact that a lot of people put a weight on their midsection, so manueverability is hindered. Also, doing ab workouts usually consist of people using their whole, or most, of their body, tiring the person exercising at an increased rate.

However, one must take an intiative when it comes to losing their belly, and it only gets easier to endure such work outs over time as you progress further and gain resistance and higher tolerance to working out. No one is expected to do this workout on their first shot, and no one should ever push themselves to the point of agonizing pain when working out. Likewise, it is important to make sure that you're doing the exercises completely correct to help ensure that you don't hurt yourself. You should (and will) feel your muscle burning - which is a good feeling, although it may not feel like it at first. It may be uncomfortable, but it means that the exercises are working. If you feel as if you cannot go any further during an exercise and it starts to hurt, stop immediately and rest.

The 8 Minute Abs video can be seen here.

Keep in mind that you should also stay hydrated whenever you're working out. Keep a bottle of water around to stay hydrated.

There's a total of eleven different exercises. Here's a rundown of the exercises contained within the 8 Minute Abs video:

1. The Basic Crunch - In this exercise you'll be doing exactly that - a basic crunch. You lay flat on your back, put your hands behind your head and curl up while looking up at the ceiling.
2. The Right Oblique Crunch - This exercise focuses on the ever so popular "love handles" on your right side. What you do for this is put your right hand behind your head and cross your body up and over while simultaneously bringing your left leg towards your elbow (as soon in the video).
3. The Left Oblique Crunch - Basically this is the exact same exercise as number 2, but using the opposing arm, leg, and bodily turning motion.
4. Toe Touches - You'll feel this exercise in your upper abs mainly. What you do is raise your legs (bent) at a nintey degree angle to your body and then bend your knees at another ninety degrees (so your body makes a "Z" like shape). Now, try and touch your toes (you won't be able to) and go back down.
5. Reverse Crunch - This is mainly for lower abs - the area where fat seems to accumulate the most in the abdominal area. Go into the position of the Toe Touches, but keep your legs at a higher angle towards the ceiling. Now try and bring your knees towards your chest, bring them back to the starting position, and repeat. For new users this exercise will most likely be pretty uncomfortable.
6. Right Side Crunch - This one will be awkward for new users, too. Put your legs over in a bent position to your left side and your right hand behind your head. By putting your knees to one side you'll be on a slight angle, which may throw some new users off balance - it takes time to get used to. Also, put your left hand on your right side - you will feel tightness in your abs in that area. Now, bring your body up towards the ceiling.
7. Left Side Crunch - The same exercise as number 6, except the exact opposite in left/right directions.
8. Push Throughs - Configure your body as if you were to a basic situp (back flat on floor, feet on the floor) with your legs spread open slightly. Hold your hands together and straight out in front of you and push through. By this time in the routine you may feel this throughout your whole abdominal area.
9. Leg Pushes - Position your legs as if you were doing Reverse Crunches, except this time push your feet up towards the ceiling. Try not to swing your legs (it's harder than you think), and control your bodily motions (gravity is not your friend during this exercise). If you're doing this correctly you'll feel it in your lower abdominal region.
10. Alternating Curls - A mixture of exercise numbers two and three. During this exercise you're alternating between the two. This number is pretty rigorous, especially since you may be tired by this time.
11. The Curl - Basically this is a crunch, except the main guy tells you to put your hands on your stomach and "feel" your abs. I believe this is so you, over time, can physically feel your progress being made. At the end of this exercise he'll tell you to hold yourself up for 3-5 seconds, which is basically a burnout.

Once again, you can find the 8 Minute Abs video by clicking here.

Also, as stated before, this shouldn't hurt your back. If you feel pain of any kind, aside from the basic "burning" sensation one gets from working out, then stop immediately. Also take note that I am not a personal trainer. Strictly follow the guidelines and instructions set forth by the trainer in the video, too.