Do you want the best ab workout routine? Of course you do, doesn't everyone? Well, anyone that takes pride in their appearance does, anyway. I know the ladies sure like to see a guys six pack. No, not your 6 pack of beer fellas, your abs. And guys like their ladies with nice flat stomachs. At least I do.
Now you have to ask, “Where do I begin?” Let's start with the basic anatomy of the abdominals. Next, I'll outline the best exercises for each part of the abs. Finally, I'll put together a few abdominal workout routines for you to try.
Abdominal Anatomy 101
It's important to note that no matter how many abdominal workout routines you do, if you have too much fat, especially around your mid-section, nobody will ever see your abs. You are going to have to lose some of that fat before your abs will ever get a chance to poke through.
Eat leaner, get on a fat burning workout plan, and use a good stomach workout and you'll be able to show off some impressive abs. Don't do those things and you won't. It really is that simple.
Abdominal Exercises:
1.Lying Leg Raise (Lower abs and obliques) 2.Hanging Leg Raise (Lower abs and obliques) 3.Incline Sit-ups (Upper and mid abs and obliques) 4.Crunches (Upper abs and obliques)
I could go on and on with abdominal exercise after abdominal exercise, and trust me, there are tons of them. But if you want the most effective and efficient of them, those are them.
Also, twisting to each side when performing the above exercises, adds intensity to your workout and increased the effectiveness of each exercise. This twisting motion exercises the oblique muscles on the side of your abs. This in turn helps strengthen and shape your stomach from all angles. This is how you get great abs.
Exercise Execution:
1.Lying Leg Raise: Lying on your back, with knees slightly bent, raise your legs from parallel to perpendicular. Repeat. *Alternately twist your hips to each side to increase the intensity and work the side obliques.
2.Hanging Leg Raise: Grab an overhead bar and hang. With knees slightly bent, raise your legs to parallel. Lower your legs back down and repeat. *Alternately twist your hips to each side to increase the intensity and work the side obliques.
3.Incline Sit-ups: Lay down on an incline sit-up board. With your hands beside your ears, curl your upper body until your elbows touch your knees. Uncurl your body until your lower back touches the incline board, and repeat. *Alternately touch the opposite elbow to the opposite knee to increase the intensity and work the side obliques.
4.Crunches: Lay on your back with your legs bent at a 90 degree angle. With your hands beside your ears, curl your upper up and towards your knees until your elbows touch your knees. Repeat. *Alternately touch the opposite elbow to the opposite knee to increase the intensity and work the side obliques.
*Try to keep some tension on your abdominals at all times during the execution of these exercises. This will create a more intense workout.
*Breath in as you contract your abs, during the hardest part of the workout exercises, and breath out during the easiest part of the exercises, as you lengthen your abs.
THE BEST AB WORKOUT ROUTINE:
*Always begin every workout by warming up and stretching.
*All exercises in these workouts are done to failure.
Ab Workout Routine #1:
1.Lying Leg Raise
2.Incline Situps
Perform 3 circuits of Lying Leg Raise and Incline Situps, resting 60 seconds between exercises.
Ab Workout Routine #2:
1.Hanging Leg Raise
2.Crunches
Perform 3 circuits of Hanging Leg Raise and Crunches, resting 60 seconds between exercises.
Perform one straight repetition, followed by one repetition with a twist to the right, then followed by one repetition with a twist to the left. Repeat.
Use either free Ab Workout Routine #1 or Ab Workout Routine #2, not both at the same time. Each routine incorporates an upper an lower ab exercise. Add a twist to each exercise and you then work both sides of your obliques. It's simple, it's basic and it works.
You can use these workouts by themselves or add them as just one part of a full workout routine.
TRAINING DAYS:
One day on. One to two days off. Repeat.
Final Thoughts
You can use the exercises I recommend or you can use your favorite abdominal exercises instead. Really it doesn't matter, as long as the exercises you choose, work the upper abs, the lower abs and the obliques.
Work hard with either of the free ab workout routines, stay away from the donuts, chocolate bars, chips and ice cream, you'll get that flat stomach and your abs will be great.
Got your own great ab workout? Wanna share what's working for you? I'd love to hear about it and I'm sure others would too. Post it here: