Exercises for Abs

The abdominal muscles are a part of your core muscles which give you stability and support when you do any kind of activity. If you want to get a flat stomach or get that elusive six-pack abs, you will have to do some ab workout. Just doing exercises will not be enough, you will must have a good flat abs diet plan that will support your goal. It doesn't have to be a strenuous diet, but you need to avoid junk food and excess alcohol for your abs exercises to be effective. Another important factor of a successful workout program is discipline, if you have planned to work out 4 days a week make sure you stick to it. Focus and correct form is very important when you are working out. A friend of mine carries his cell phone to the gym and keeps on texting or talking on it, then he turns around and wonders why he isn't getting any results. One last tip before we get to the exercises, keep your motivation levels high. Stick a poster of a guy who has six-pack abs in your room or a girl with a flat stomach anything that keeps you going.

If you are doing weight training or following any other workout routine add 20-30 minutes of high intensity abs workout to your program. If you aren't following any other routine plan, a 45 minute abs workout is expected. One of the most essential things before starting any abdominal exercises is warm up, do a 5-8 minutes jog or exercise bike.

Crunches
One of the effective exercises at home is the crunches, you can also add variations to your crunches routine to increase the difficulty level. While doing the traditional crunches, lie down on the floor with your knees bent and feet firmly planted on the floor. Cross your hands behind your head and crunch your torso, so that your chest touches your thighs. To increase the difficulty level you can also do the same exercise on a decline bench. Ask your trainer or friend to sit on your legs as you lie down on the decline bench. Keep your feet on the high side of the bench and keep your arms crossed on your chest. Crunch your body forward, as you exhale and come back down slowly.

Reverse Crunches
It is considered to be one of the best exercises for lower abs and will strengthen your core muscles. Lie on your back on a yoga mat and keep your hands crossed behind your head. Raise your legs at a 90 degree angle and crunch them towards your chest. Do not use a swinging motion and try not to bend your knees. Have a controlled motion and exhale as you bring your legs towards your chest. If you find it difficult to balance, you can put your hands beside your hips instead of having them under your head. If you are up for it you can also add ball crunches to your routine.

Bicycle Exercise
The bicycle is one of the best exercises for abs for women who want to burn some fats and get a flat stomach. Lie on the floor, bend your knees and bring them towards your chest. Interlock your arms by crossing the fingers and keep them under your head. Now straighten your right leg and try to touch your left leg with your right elbow. Comeback to the start position and this time extend your left leg and try to touch your right knee with your left elbow. It is a good abs workout at home to get rid of your love handles.

Leg Raises
The leg raises are simple to execute, but are very effective when it comes to strengthening your lower abs. Lie on your back with your arms resting near your hips and legs extended on the floor with toes pointing to the ceiling. Now lift your legs to a 45 degree angle and bring them back down slowly, don't rest them on the floor when you get them down. Exhale as you go up and inhale as you go down. If you find this difficult to manage you can raise one leg at a time.

Exercises for abs are quite effective if you have the correct form and the discipline to follow your workout plan. Try listening to your favorite music, as you do these exercises because this will get your adrenalin pumping and give you more energy to work your abdominal muscles.