Abdominal Workout 101

Finding the best abdominal workout can take some trial and error. There are many ways to strengthen the muscles in this area and you can experiment with some to find the ones that work best for you. You will know that they are working well, when you; feel sore afterward, like what you are doing and have the ability to add more if needed.

A complete abdominal workout needs the entire package to succeed. That means that you need the healthy balanced diet with no junk food or sweets. It also entails a whole body work-out that may include weight training and cardio. When everything is in place, adding a great abdominal routine will give you that six-pack that you have always dreamed of.

The exercise ball is the perfect place to start with the Abs. You can try doing a sit-up right on the ball. To get into position you will want to lie on your back with the middle pressing on the ball. Then you will fold your arms over your chest and begin to raise your upper body using your Abs only. Your head will stay aligned with your back. Try to do this nice and slow and hold the position for the count of two when you come up. This exercise works best in small sets of five.

The Ab crunch can also be achieved on the exercise ball. You`re going to lay on the ball with your feet flat on the floor. The middle of your back will press on the ball and you will pull your legs and elbows together. When they meet you will hold the pose for two seconds and then slowly let down. This exercise takes a lot of skill and balance or you will fall off. Start off slow and work your way up to something you are comfortable with.

Using weights with you Ab workout is a sure way for success. The captain chair is an exercise that is done at the gym using a machine. You will use your arms to hoist yourself up, where your forearms will rest flat against the side rails. Then you will push your feet up until they come around your waist line. Remember to keep your feet and legs together when doing this machine. Keep movement slow and hold the position when your feet meet the middle.

The bike crunch is also an excellent exercise. The first thing you will do is lye on the floor with your back pressed against it right in the arch. Then holding your hands behind your back, you will use your elbows as a way to touch your knees as they also come up from the other end. The only muscles working out for this routine should be in your Abs. This can be done in sets of three done 10-20 times each.

There are lots of Ab exercises available to choose from. It is always a good idea to write several down and then pick a few each day to do. Fitness experts recommend an Ab workout 2-3 times a week, so it is essential to change up your routine. Perhaps the one day you have a routine and then the second day is a totally new routine. Keeping your Abs on their toes will have all of the muscles being worked out to their max.