Four Of My Favorite Ab Exercises February 18th, 2008

Ready to workout with me? These are four of my favorite exercises for abs. You can do them in the gym, or at home. It doesn’t matter, as long as you do them.

1. Ball Crunches

For this exercise, i recommend you have an exercise ball available. If not, it’s not a big deal. Start by holding the ball with your ankles, and lifting it about 4 inches from the ground

Bring the ball up, along with your upper body, meeting at the top. When you get to the top, switch the ball from your feet to your hands.

Slowly lower your legs and upper body, but without touching either to the ground. It is important that you never touch the ground! It’s the constant tension that makes this exercise work so well.

You want to make sure you squeeze your abs when you meet at the top, like so.

Don’t cheat the full extension when you come back down. Stretch your arms and legs all the way out as you bring them down, but don’t touch the floor. In fact, the floor is hot magma. Don’t touch the magma. . . . don’t touch the magma!

2. Toe touches

Start with your legs completely vertical. Lift your upper body off of the floor with your arms straight up in the air.

Touch your right fingertips to your left toes.

Then alternate.

3. Roman Chairs
Lift your legs in the air and bend them at a 45° angle. Lift your head off the floor and place your hands behind your ears. You don’t want to put your hands behind your head because you don’t want to pull your head up. It puts an unnecessary amount of stress on your neck.

Touch your right elbow to your left knee (or get as close as possible).

Then alternate.

4. Toe Touches
Lie on your back with your knees up. Lift your head off the ground.

Move your legs out as far as you feel comfortable. Slide your right hand down the side to touch your right heel.

Then alternate.

I like to daydream as I do this exercise. . . .

These are just a few exercises that I do for my abs. I like to switch it up every few days just to give my routine some excitement. Do you have a favorite ab exercise? Email me at anwar@cannedfitness.com and share!

Tags: workout, exercises, abs, gym, exercise ball, upper body, Roman Chairs, Toe Touches