Best Ab Workout – Abdominal Exercises

The American Council of Exercise has studied the features of various ab workouts. These ab exercises were found to be very beneficial for the ab muscles.

Best ab workout
A prominent abdominal exercise is called as the "Bicycle exercise". It is asserted that this is useful for the six-pack muscles and the waist. The procedure to execute it, is as follows:

• Lie down on the floor mat with the entire body touching it and the face towards the ceiling
• cross the fingers behind the head and outstretch the elbows perpendicular to the body
• pull the knees in the direction of the chest
• uplift the shoulder blades with no stress on the neck
• straighten the left leg such that it makes a forty-five degrees angle with the floor
• turn the upper body in such a way that the left elbow touches the right knee
• now move the left leg towards the chest and straighten the right leg at an angle of forty-five degrees with the floor
• turn the upper body so that the right elbow touches the left knee
• continue this process so that the movement of the legs appears like riding a bicycle

Long arm crunch
This abdominal workout utilizes the upper part of the ab. The procedure is quite simple as follows:

• Lie down on the floor mat with the entire body touching it and the face towards the ceiling
• pull legs upwards, so that the feet are flat on the ground
• the distance between the feet must be equal to shoulder width
• the arms must be next to the ears and hands straight above the head and parallel to the floor
• lift the shoulder blades from the floor mat and then lower them again
• during the entire exercise,the lower back must touch the floor

Atleast, 12 to 16 repetitions have to be done.

Reverse crunch

• Lie down on the floor mat with the entire body touching it and the face towards the ceiling
• place the hands parallel to the floor, either adjacent to the body or above the head
• lift the legs together so that they are perpendicular to the floor
• contract the abs to lift the hips from the floor
• to lift the hips, the legs should not be swung to create momentum. Rather, apply the abs

Captain's chair
This exercise is useful for the muscles of the six-pack and the waist. This chair can be found in many gyms and health clubs.

• sit on the chair, grip the handholds
• press the back against the pad
• raise the legs, move the knees in the direction of the chest, contract the abs
• do not bend the back and breathe moderately
• lower the legs and perform 12 to 16 repetitions

Ab rocker
This ab workout aims at the six-pack muscles.

• sit on the Ab rocker, grip the bars in both hands
• contract the abs and move the body forward
• release the rocker and repeat this process so that 1 to 3 sets of 12 to 16 repetitions are completed

Care must be taken that the arms are not used to push the ab rocker. Rather , utilize the abs.

It is worth remembering that these best ab exercises do not burn the fat accumulated over the abs. Nor do they cause the six-pack to be seen. However, these exercises build the ab muscles and enhance the body metabolism.