100 Abdominal Exercises

From LoveToKnow Exercise

Having a toned and fit ab section is possible for anyone by becoming familiar with 100 abdominal exercises. Don’t worry, you don’t have to perform every single one of these moves, but by incorporating a variety of ab exercises into your routine, you can sculpt and tone your midsection just in time for swimsuit season.

toned abs

Toning Your Abdominals

While many people are under the impression that they can tone certain body parts with particular exercise moves, it’s important to understand that if too much fat covers the muscle being worked, it’s not possible to get great muscle definition. Even 100 abdominal exercises performed every day won’t tone your abdominals for everyone to see if they’re hidden under fat; it takes a combined effort of aerobic activity plus weight-bearing exercises to decrease fat so that muscle shows through.

A lot of gym teachers teach basic sit-ups, which is an adequate move; the efficiency of the full sit-up versus the crunch (where only the head and shoulders leave the floor) is still debated. What’s important is controlling the movement and using the abdominals for lifting, not the head and shoulders.

While gym machines can sometimes be helpful in working the abs, there are plenty of movements that require no special equipment and that you can do at home. It’s very possible to achieve a toned midsection without every leaving your house or paying gym membership dues.

Where to Find 100 Abdominal Exercises

One way you can use these exercises is to rotate them; this gives your body some variety so your routine doesn’t get monotonous and boring. Try learning a few new moves every couple of weeks. This way, you work your entire ab section. These are some of the most common ab exercises you’ll find and how to perform them:

  • Sit-up: Lie on your back with knees raised and feet flat on the floor. Lace your arms behind your head and lift your head, shoulders and back, touching your chin to your knees before lowering yourself again. Perform three sets of 15-25 repetitions.
  • Crunch: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. You can either place your arms behind your head or cross them across your chest. Do not, however, use your arms to lift your head; use your ab muscles to perform the movement. Inhale as you lift your head and shoulders off the floor, contracting your abs as you do so. Exhale as you lower back to the floor. Perform three sets of 15-25 repetitions.
  • Reverse crunch: Lie on your back with your arms straight down your sides and hands tucked under your buttocks. Inhale and raise your legs up into the air without bending your knees. Then, exhale and slowly lower your legs, but don’t let your feet touch the floor. Go into the next rep without pausing. Perform this movement slowly and with control, using your abs to lift and lower your legs.
  • Plank: This yoga move is simple, but effective in targeting your abdominals. Lie face down with your elbows touching the floor, next to your chest. Push up and rest your body on your elbows or hands while contracting your abs. Keep your body in a straight line from your head to your toes and hold for 30 seconds to one minute. Perform as many reps as you can.

There are sites where you can see more abdominal exercises. It may take practice to smoothly execute some exercises that are unfamiliar to you, but practice will make perfect. If you don’t perform the movements correctly, you don’t get the full benefit of the exercise.

Other Tips

  • Keep in mind that while some people seem genetically fortunate to have a six-pack midsection, this highly sculpted look isn’t possible in those who biologically keep more fat around their middles. Still, performing abdominal exercises benefits you in many ways.
  • Eating a diet high in nutritious foods and low in empty calories will not only improve your health, but your muscle tone.
  • Following a regular routine that features aerobic exercise a minimum of 30 minutes three times per week will help your ab definition show.
  • As with any weight-bearing exercises, don’t perform these moves on consecutive days, but allow 48 hours to pass between ab workouts.


 


Comments

Hi Charles,

Thanks for reading here at LovetoKnow Exercise and taking the time to share.

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Here's a free website with pictures of 100 Abdominal Exercises (All-About-Abs)

-- Contributed by: Charles

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