Everybody wants tight, toned abs, and exercise is the only way to get them. Of course, nobody will be able to see the results of your hard work if your abs are covered with a layer of fat, so be sure to watch your diet and burn fat with cardio workouts. The other half of the equation is to simply work your abs.
Your Abs
The "six pack" muscle is called the rectus abdominis, and it runs from your diaphragm to your pelvis. Contrary to popular belief, there is no "upper" and "lower" ab muscle, although there are exercises that target the rectus abdominis from different angles. Beneath that lies the transverse abdominis, also called the "deep abdominals," which requires a completely different sort of exercise. On either side, the obliques run from back to front and support you when you twist. Toned obliques require yet another type of exercise, but working them will nip in your waist from the sides.
Lying Leg Raise
The lying leg raise, also known as the reverse crunch, is done by lying on your back with your legs in the air and pulsing your legs toward the ceiling. Done this way, the move targets your rectus abdominis from the bottom end, but adding a crunch with your upper body works the whole muscle. If you begin with your legs about 6 inches from the floor and your arms overhead, then contract your abs to raise your legs and your upper body at the same time, you target your deep abdominal muscles, or the transverse abdominis. A similar move can be done while lying on your side to target the obliques, but don't attempt it unless your core is already strong. Otherwise, it can strain your lower back muscles.
Alternatives
If you find the lying leg raise too difficult, there are plenty of exercises you can do to work up to it while providing a good workout for your abs. You can try doing lying leg raises with your knees bent, for example, which condenses the weight of your legs closer to your body, making them easier to pull up. You could also hang from a pull-up bar and lift your legs out in front of you, or even just tuck your knees to your chest. All of these moves target the rectus abdominis in the same way, without being quite so difficult and placing such a strain on the back.
Don't Forget Your Obliques
Of course, no ab workout is complete unless you work your obliques. Unfortunately, the lying leg raise simply does not target those muscles because the movement is done square in front of you and there is no twisting or rotation involved. You can alter the lying leg raise to incorporate the obliques, though, with the use of a medicine ball. Keep one next to you, and do the version of the lying leg raise where you raise your upper body as well. At the peak of the move, when everything is up, twist from the waist to pick up the medicine ball with both hands, touch it to the floor on the other side of you, and return it to its original position before you lie back down. It adds a whole new element to the exercise and makes it much more difficult, but the results will be worth it.
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