Many fitness enthusiasts desire to develop their abdomen more than any other area. Some fail to realize that the abdominal area is not merely one muscle. The abdomen is made up of a group of muscles. Because of this fact, one should utilize a group of different exercises in order to get the best work out for this group of muscles. There are many different exercises to choose from that are excellent for developing the abs.
The crunch is by far the most popular and well-know abdominal exercise. This exercise is performed by lying on ones back and gently lifting the upper torso off the floor towards the lower half of ones body. This exercise can also be modified by utilizing an exercise ball. One would place the ball between ones legs
An effective deviation of the crunch exercise is to cross one leg across ones mid-section while the knees are bent laying one foot on the opposite knee. After a few repetitions, one would then switch legs and perform the crunches again. Switching between legs while crunching presents different resistant to the abdomen muscles providing a great work out.
A way to provide variety to the crunch is to perform the reverse crunch. The reverse crunch is done by lying on ones back and, instead of lifting the torso, one would lift the lower half of ones body. This exercise should be done slowly with controlled motion. The form should be proper in order for this exercise to be effective.
The hanging knee lift is an exercise that is also excellent for the abdominal muscles. The hanging knee lift is executed by holding a chin-up bar and elevating the bottom half of the body bringing the knees into the chest. To perform this exercise properly, one should refrain from moving the upper body and lift the lower body at the pelvis, not the hip. Bending at the hip is a good hip flexor exercise, but does little for the abdomen.
One more excellent work out for abs is the bicycle. This exercise is performed by lying on ones back and motioning the legs above the floor to simulate riding a bicycle with fingers interlocked behind the head. To maximize this exercise, one should twist the upper torso to make each elbow meet the opposite knee as the legs extend and retract. It is important to keep the abs contracted through the extent of this exercise.
One alteration to the bicycle exercise is to alternate between fast and slow speeds. This presents the abdominal muscle group with alternating resistance which helps with development. Another alteration is to pause during this exercise and then fully extend one leg holding it at a 45 degree angle above the floor keeping the other leg in a crouched position. After a few seconds, switch and hold the other leg at a 45 degree angle above the floor while keeping the first leg in a couched position.
These different exercises and alterations should be done on alternating days. This is to avoid working the same muscle group in the same way every day. In addition, there is less risk of injury when one executes these abdominal exercises with slow, controlled movement rather than quick motion. The idea is to work smarter instead of harder. By utilizing a group of exercises, one can get the best work out for the abs.
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