You have been searching for the best abdominal exercises out there to help you tone the muscles of your mid section.
The search is over, here are four of the best exercises you can do to work each section of the abdomen.
The Basic Crunch To work the upper abs the basic crunch is the best abdominal exercise you can do.
To do the basic crunch you need to lie on your back flat on the floor or an exercise mat.
With your hands to the side of your head, bend your knees to a 90 degree angle with while your feet are flat on the floor.
Now raise your shoulder blades off the ground like you are attempting to touch your knees with your chest.
Don't move your legs and make sure that you are lifting using only your stomach muscles.
Once you are up contract the ab muscles and then slowly lower your body down.
You only want to touch the floor lightly with your shoulder blades and then repeat.
You should be breathing out on the way up and in on the way down.
The Reverse Crunch This exercise is ideal for working the lower abs.
To do a reverse crunch you will lie on back on the floor or exercise mat, place your hands behind you head.
Bend your knees and lift your feet about 6 inches off the ground.
Now you are going to slowly bring your knees to your chest and lift your bottom off the ground.
Make sure that you are contracting your abs, you will be able to feel those muscles being worked after only a few repetitions.
Make sure that you are not swinging your legs, use your abs.
Slowly lower your legs to the starting position.
The Cross Crunch This exercise works the oblique muscles.
Again, lie on your back, bend your knees but keep your left foot resting flat on the floor and place your right foot across your left knee.
Put your left hand to the side of your head and your right hand on your left side.
You can also just place your right hand on the floor by your hip.
Now curl your body up in a twisting movement.
You should be bringing your left shoulder to your right knee.
Then slowly lower your body back to the ground.
Make sure that you switch sides so that you are working both sides of the abdomen equally.
The Bicycle This exercise works all three section of the abdomen at the same time.
You are again on the floor flat on your back, place your hands behind your head.
This time you will slightly bend your knees, bringing them toward your chest, at the same time elevate your shoulders off the ground.
You will straighten out the left leg to about 45 degrees while you are turning the upper part of your body to the right.
As you bring in the left leg you will extend the right leg and turn your body to the left.
Each time try to get your elbow to touch the opposite knee.
These are four of the best abdominal exercises you can do to work each area of the set of muscles in the abdomen.