Amazing Abdominal Exercises

Amazing Abdominal Exercises

Most trainers and physiologists now recommend crunches rather than sit-ups as a tummy-toning exercise. Using the correct technique is more important than how many you can do. Lie on your back on a mat with your hands lightly supporting either the back of your head or your neck. Begin contracting your abdominal muscles to lift your upper torso while keeping your lower back on the mat. Use slow, controlled movements and be sure to work all parts of the abdominals-upper, lower, transverse, and oblique. For extra conditioning, hold at the top of each contraction for a few seconds. With each crunch, press your bellybutton to the floor as if concaving or sucking in your stomach. If you do abdominal exercises correctly and without momentum, 12 repetitions of each exercise will be sufficient to feel a burn and exhaustion. If you can do 100 or more reps of anything, you are not doing the exercise in the most efficient way. For more on crunches, see Chapter 8, “Iron-Free Resistance Training.”