While you should include a variety of exercises in your abdominal workout, this alone won't give you the washboard abs you desire. Following a strict diet and engaging in regular cardiovascular workouts is just as important as your ab exercises, if not more so. Combine all three strategies to sculpt a six-pack stomach.
Sit-Ups
To perform a basic sit-up, lie on the floor, anchor your feet under a sturdy object and bend your knees. Contract your abs and use them to flex your spine as you lift your upper body off the floor. Return to your starting position and repeat. Sit on a Swiss ball to perform a variation of this exercise. Use weight plates or medicine balls to add resistance to your sit-ups.
Incline Leg-Hip Raises
This exercise targets your lower torso. Lie face-up on a decline bench with your head at the higher end. Grasp the bench above your head as you lift your legs, bending at the knees, and flex toward your face. Keep going until your knees almost touch your chin and your waist is flexed and raised off the board. Add ankle weights for a more advanced workout.
Bicycle Kicks
Lie face-up on the floor to perform the bicycle kick. Raise and bend your knees until your shins parallel the ground. Put your hands behind your ears so your elbows point out. Straighten your right leg as you twist your torso to the left, touching your right elbow to your left knee. Bend your right leg and straighten your left leg as you simultaneously twist your torso to the right, touching your left elbow to your right knee. Wear ankle weights to increase the difficulty level.
Oblique V-Up
Lie on your right side, straighten your body and cross your arms over your chest. Keep your ankles together during this exercise. Slowly lift your legs off the floor as you simultaneously lift your upper torso toward your feet -- your body will create a "V" shape. You should feel the contraction in your upper obliques. Return to your starting position. Complete your set, switch sides and perform the same number of reps. Add ankle weights if the exercise becomes too easy.
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