It’s bathing suit season and you want to show off those toned and defined abs this year. Try to work your ab muscles three to four days a week. Be sure to incorporate exercises that work your rectus abdominus, which gives you the visible six pack, and your obliques, which are on your sides and give you a shapely waistline. Add a few exercises to your abs routine and amp up your results.
Straight Leg Crunch
Lie on a mat with both your feet straight up in the air. Reach your arms up and try to touch your toes. Perform two sets of 20 reps. This will engage your upper abs. You can always add a weight once you have mastered the basic move.
Rotational Side Plank
Start on your left side with your left hand on the mat, your right arm extended straight above your head and your right foot slightly in front of your left. Take your right arm and rotate it down toward the mat and back above your head. Perform the rotation 10 reps on each side. This works your core musculature as well as your arms, while also sculpting your obliques.
Full Situps
Place your feet on a yoga ball with your legs straight. Extend your arms over your head and come up in a full sit-up reaching toward your toes. Perform two sets of 20 reps. This exercise will provide an all-over tone, working your upper and lower abs. You can add a weight plate to vary the intensity of this exercise.
V-Ups
Keep your legs straight and stretch your arms over your head. Bring your legs and your arms in at the same time, making a V with your body. This is a more advanced exercise and creates all-over tone. Don’t let your feet touch the ground throughout the exercise to keep your core engaged. You can bend your knees to decrease the difficulty. If you want to increase the effectiveness, hold a 10 to 25 lb. weight plate and bring it toward your feet. Adding the weight will fatigue your abdominal muscles faster.
Hanging Knee Raise
This can be done using a captain’s chair or a chin-up bar. Simply hang from the bar and bring your knees in toward your chest. Try not to let your body swing. Focus on keeping your body still. You can also do straight leg raises. Both exercises work your lower abs and your arms.
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