Abdominal Exercise for Women

Women-—especially those who have had children—-tend to hate their abs more than any other body part, so abdominal exercises for women are the perfect way to get a jump start on that trouble area!

The Best Abdominal Exercises for Women

Crunches and exercises designed to work the core (Pilates, yoga, fitness ball work, etc) are the most effective at toning up those lower abs. They have to be used alongside a healthy diet and cardio to be as effective as possible.

You can learn the most effective crunch-type movements by engaging in an abdominal blasting class at the gym or in the privacy of your home with a workout DVD or even a lower abdominal workout featured in a magazine targeted toward women's health and fitness (try Women's Health, Shape, and Fitness just to name a few).

There's also gym equipment if you prefer a membership to stay motivated as well as small pieces of equipment that you can buy and store right at home.

Methods

You'll never have the abs you've been dreaming of if you start an exercise regimen and then stop due to boredom or because you set your goals too far out of reach (did you say you wanted to work out for two hours every day without fail, run a household, and keep your full-time job nailed down?).

Here are some methods to tone your abs. Choose the combination you see yourself most likely to enjoy. If you like high intensity workouts, don't choose Pilates or yoga. If you prefer a slower pace with methodical movements, on the other hand, then Pilates or yoga may be right up your alley. It's all about your preferences.

• Pilates classes, DVDs, or even on your own once you learn the basics
• Yoga classes, DVDs, or again, even on your own
• Cardio (this is a must no matter what your preferences, but you have a choice between walking, running, riding bikes, etc—whatever gets your heart rate up to your target fat burning level)
• Crunches on the floor or the fitness ball
• Captain's chair

Get Great Abs at Home

You can use small pieces of exercise equipment available at your local sporting goods store or even Target. You may be a fan of working out with exercise DVDs, especially if you travel frequently or like to squeeze a workout in when you can. Working out in your living room definitely has its perks—no travel time, for one!

Also, as mentioned above, if you do travel frequently, you'll be glad to know that you can stay in shape without adding cumbersome exercise equipment or a lot of weight to your everyday luggage. Here are some of the best things to pick up for sculpting your abs at home or on the go:

Equipment

You don't necessarily need equipment, but if you're looking to spice up your ab workout so you'll stay at it, here are a few pieces of equipment to try:

The Ab Wheel

Fitness ball

Fitness Quest Bosu Trainer

DVDs

One great thing about working out with DVDs is this: you don't have to buy them all to get a good idea of how you should be working your abs. You can buy them all, of course, but it's not necessary. Here are a few options:

• Rent one or two from the movie rental store with the best selection in your town.
• Hop on Netflix, sign up, and start getting a new workout in every week.
• With a little time and effort, you may even be able to scout out a few workout programs on the television.

Take note of the exercises that you feel in your lower abs the most. From there, you can create your own super-effective lower ab workout consisting only of the best abdominal exercises for women. Ah, the beauty of variety.

You won’t be stuck using the same potentially uninspiring machines at the gym day after day. You'll be subjected to new and different workouts as often as you like, and you can use your creativity to build your own personalized lower ab routine.

Here are a few DVDs/VHS to look for to get started. Branch out from there once you determine your likes and dislikes:

• Hip Hop Abs

• Swiss Ball Abs

• Tamilee Webb's I Want Those Abs

• Denise Austin's Hit the Spot Core Complete and Hit the Spot: Abs

Basic Floor Workout for Lower Abs

You don't have to have a gym membership or a captain's chair in your basement to get fantastic abs you don't mind baring at the beach. Visit these LoveToKnow Articles to learn more:

Lower Ab Workouts

Pilates Power Gym

Ab Exercises with Resistance Bands

Exercise Ball Free Workouts

Other Keys to Sexy Abs

There's an old saying, "Abs start in the kitchen." It's true! Low-fat diets are imperative to sexy abs—especially the lower abs where women tend to store their extra weight. In addition to that, you'll need a cardio routine. Three to five days a week, strap on your sneakers and hit the pavement (or the treadmill, the trampoline, the elliptical, the step aerobics class…you get the idea).

• Pictures of People Exercising
• Women Fitness Models
• Male Fitness Model

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• Contour Abs
• Naked Exercise
• Naked Pilates
• Hula Hoop Exercises

• 100 Abdominal Exercises
• List of the Best Abdominal Exercises
• Lower Ab Exercises
• Female Abs
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