The Ab Lounge 2 is marketed by Fitness Quest as a full abdominal exerciser that sculpts your midsection with regular use. It resembles a large deck chair and folds in the middle to help you perform abdominal crunches with proper form. The Ab Lounge 2 retails for $89.99, as of December 2010, and includes a workout video.
Basic Jackknife
The jackknife is the most basic exercise you can perform on the Ab Lounge 2 and serves as a foundation for all other exercises. This exercise isolates your rectus abdominis. To perform the basic jackknife, sit in the Ab Lounge 2 with your feet on the footrest and your hands gripping the strap above your head. Lie back, then exhale and pull your chest and knees toward each other. Contract your abdominal muscles in toward your spine. Inhale after you reach maximum contraction and relax back to the starting position.
Oblique Jackknife
After you have assumed the jackknife position, you can turn your legs to the left or right 45 degrees and you will shift the focus of the exercise to your oblique muscles. Keep your shoulders facing forward and bring your knees toward your chest as you did in the basic jackknife. After you finish a set on one side of your body, turn your legs to the opposite side and perform a set of equal repetitions. Building up your oblique muscles helps to shape your abdomen and can improve your posture.
Extended Leg Jackknife
When you perform abdominal exercise such as crunches, you may underutilize the lower portion of their rectus abdominis, which can make you look like you still have a belly even if your abs are strong. To work this portion of your abdominals on the Ab Lounge 2, assume the position of the basic jackknife, then stretch your legs out over the footrest. Perform the jackknife motion, but keep your legs stiff throughout the exercise. Focus the contraction of your abdominals on the lower portion of the muscle throughout your sets of this exercise.
Torso Stretch
Stretching is an important part of muscle development, and this exercise will engage all of your abdominal muscles in a deep stretch that can complement the work of the jackknife exercises. Lie on the Ab Lounge horizontally with your legs extended over the footrest and your arms outstretched over your head as far as possible. Continue stretching and arch your back slightly to increase the intensity of the stretch. Hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds as you breathe deeply.
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