Abdominal Muscle Exercise For Weight Loss

Losing weight from your midsection can give your waistline a tighter, more tapered appearance. Weight loss requires burning more calories than you take in daily to create a deficit. Developing muscle through strength training helps boost metabolism so your body burns more calories even when resting. To see results from your abdominal workout, you need to perform exercises that recruit all of the muscles in your core. Incorporating abdominal exercises into your training routine while following a healthy diet will help you lose weight and tone your stomach.

Stability Ball Crunches

Stability ball crunches target the front of the abs. Sit on the stability ball. Walk your feet forward until your back is completely supported by the ball. Place your hands behind your head to support your neck. Squeeze your abs and lift your shoulder blades off of the ball. Slowly lower your upper body down to the starting position. Repeat for four sets of 25 repetitions.

Hanging Leg Raises

Doing hanging leg raises engages all of the muscles in your core. Hold a pull-up bar with your hands shoulder width apart. Hang from the bar with your legs extended straight. Squeeze your abs and lift your legs so your body is bent at 90 degrees. Slowly lower your legs down to the starting position. Repeat for four sets of 25 repetitions.

Oblique Crunches

Oblique crunches recruit the sides of the waist. Lie on your back with your right leg crossed over your left. Place your hands behind your head. Squeeze your abs and lift your left shoulder toward your right knee. Return to the starting position. Repeat for four sets of 25 repetitions on each side.

Medicine Ball Planks

Medicine ball planks stimulate all of the muscles in the midsection including the abs, the external obliques and the lower back. Begin in a push-up position. Place a medicine ball underneath the balls of your feet. Keep your abs tight to maintain stability. Lower yourself down onto your elbows. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat for three sets.