Are you still doing dozens of crunches in the hopes of getting flat, washboard abs?
Traditional crunches are old news, so let’s take your ab routine to the next level with the following 5 Best Ab Workouts. The most effective ab exercises strengthen your core on the whole; which helps prevent dreaded back pain, increases your agility and of course, makes you look good. In your new ab routine the focus is on quality over quantity. A few concentrated movements are always more effective than dozens and dozens of old fashion crunches.
[Read: Are Exercises Sufficient To Get Those Killer Flat Abs?]
5 Best Ab Workouts
Plank
When performed correctly, a simple plank is one of the most effective ways to tighten your entire core. Proper form is key.
Instructions
- Keep your back flat and your belly button pulled in toward your spine.
- Lie face down on mat resting on your forearms, palms flat on the floor.
- Push off the floor, raising up onto your toes and resting on your elbows.
- Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.
- Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.
Mountain Climbers
This vigorous variation of a standard plank improves core tightening up a notch. Angling your knees toward the opposite shoulder is a wonderful way to increase the intensity even more.
Instructions
- Place your hands wider than shoulder-width apart on the ground in a push-up position
- Bring one knee to your chest and then back to the starting position
- Alternate each leg quickly
Russian Twist
Nothing quite brings the burn like a properly done set of Russian Twists. By holding a medicine ball or dumbbell in your hands, the exercise becomes even more effective.
Instructions
- Sit on the floor with knees bent like in a “sit-up” position. The feet should be kept together and slightly off the floor.
- Keep your torso straight and your back off the ground at a 45 degree angle.
- Hold a medicine ball or dumbbell with both hands.
- Now swing your arms from one side to another in a twisting motion, with each swing to a side counting as one repetition.
- Move slowly for a more challenging workout.
[Read: Absolute Guide To Choosing Right Supplements For Fitness]
Reverse Crunch/Knee Tucks
All too often I see people neglect their lower abs in favor of quicker, easier exercises. The fact is that our lower abs typically need the most work, so give them the attention that they need with these Knee Tucks.
Instructions
- Start on your back, bend your knees with your feet on the floor and knees touching.
- Extend both arms overhead on either side of your ears, palms facing up.
- Exhale and bring your knees up towards your chest.
- Slowly lower your hips back down to start position.
Side Plank/Side Bridges
In yet another variation of the fantastic plank, Side Bridges are much more challenging than they appear at first glance. While the focus is mainly on your waist, due to the stabilizing nature of this exercise, you’re also working your entire core on the whole.
Instructions
- Put your feet and legs together as you lie on your right side.
- Place your right arm under your body and lift your upper body so that your right elbow is directly under your shoulder.
- Your left hand should be resting on your left hip. From this position, slowly raise your hips from the ground until a straight line is formed from your ankles to your shoulders.
- You can either hold the position for time or perform reps of it by slowly return to the starting position and repeating.
Diet Tips For Abs
Remember that having great looking abs actually starts from your kitchen! Even the best exercise routine in the world is fruitless if you throw away your results with sloppy eating. Keep your meals lean by avoiding processed carbs, packaged foods and fried items. Fill up on lean proteins and fresh vegetables and reward yourself with organic, seasonal fruit. That is truly lean living!