If you want a flat stomach, you'll need to do cardio, ab exercises and adjust your diet to reduce body fat. However, if you need to tone your stomach for that washboard abs look you'll need to focus on challenging core exercises to work your chosen muscle group, just as would to tone any other body part. Proper diet and consistent cardio are still beneficial for your health too, but ab exercises will give muscle definition to your stomach.
Crunch Beat
The crunch beat exercise works your abs both isotonically and iosmetrically. Lifting your upper body off the floor in a crunch works your abs isotonically because your body is moving. Holding the raised position while doing the crunch beat works your abs as well. To do the crunch beat, begin lying on your back with your legs in the air. Your knees are bent and your shins are parallel to the floor. Bend your elbows and place your hands behind your head.
Then, lift your head and shoulders off the floor and extend your arms straight so they are next to your head. Also, extend your legs straight at a 45 degree angle to the floor. Keep your upper body in place as you alternatively cross your legs eight times. Return to the starting position.
Reverse Crunch with Fitness Ball
The reverse crunch with fitness ball exercise works your abs with the help of a fitness ball. A fitness ball is a core training tool that is sometimes known as a Swiss ball, stability ball, exercise ball or Physio ball. The reverse crunch on a Swiss ball is done by lying with your shins on the ball and your arms straight with your hands on the floor in line with your shoulders.
Your body is straight and parallel to the floor. You simply bend your knees and roll the ball under your hips. Your back stays straight during the exercise thanks to your abs supporting your spine. Once your knees are completely tucked under your stomach, extend your legs straight behind you to return to the starting position.
Victory Lunge
The victory lunge uses your abs as well as you back, arms and legs. The abs are particularly useful in keeping your balance as you lunge backwards and then raise onto one leg and kick your other leg forward. Just standing on one leg challenges your core and the more movement in your arms and legs that you while balancing on one leg, the more difficult it will be.
The victory lunge provides plenty of challenge. Begin standing up straight with your feet together and your arms lifted over your head. Your palms will always face inwards. Then, step your left leg forward and bend your left knee to a 90 degree angle leaning forward slightly. Keep the right leg straight. Also, lower your arms and pull your arms and shoulders back at your sides. Next, push off your left foot to stand up straight on your right leg. Bring your left leg straight in front of you about a foot off the floor and lift your arms over your head. Put your left foot back on to floor to finish one lunge. Repeat on the right.
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