Abs Exercises Without Crunches

In your quest for fitness, you may have heard you can do abs exercises without crunches. Sure enough, classic abdominal crunches are kind of limited and some people find them problematic due to back injuries and the like.

When we talk about "abs", most of us just think about the sought-after sixpack, rectus abdominis. However, there's another set of important midsection muscles called obliques, which run diagonally from your ribcage to your hips in two layers, essentially criss-crossing one another to allow for a twisting motion. There's yet another, even deeper layer called the transverse abs, that is not visible at all yet acts like a back brace.

Needless to say, you need to train all components in order to get a truly solid "core". The product by this name sells primarily on the visual factor, and there's some truth to it -- if you get the whole package nice and strong, it does work a little like a girdle, pulling your midsection tighter. But the real money shot, for all health- and practical purposes, is the boon to back health and posture. Many people suffer back problems due to weak midsections, which are often reduced or alleviated altogether as the core strength increases.

It truly isn't rocket science; in fact, your sports coach in high school probably had a few good tricks up his or her sleeve that hit the abs pretty good without crunches. Here are three tried-and-true crunchfree exercises that are bound to give your midsection a good burn:

The Bicycle Maneuver

Lay down on the floor with your fists by your ears. Resist the temptation to tug at the back of your head, since this will stress the fragile neck bones. Keeping your lower back pressed firmly against the floor at all times, bring your knees up to a 45-degree angle and begin a bicycle pedaling kind of motion in the air.

The Plank and Side Plank

Place yourself facedown just above the floor, propping yourself up only on your toes and elbows/forearms. It is vital you don't let your hips sag, so keep your abs super-tight. Stay in this position as long as possible and try to last longer as you get more advanced. For side plank, turn yourself sideways so that you're propped up on just one elbow/forearm (other hand on waist) and the side of on foot. Again, it is critical that you stay straight as a fire poker and don't let your hips sag.

Leg Tucks

Sit sideways on a bench, gripping the edge firmly with both hands for balance. Lift your legs and slowly pull the knees towards your chest, focusing on the abs throughout.

There are products, advertised on TV that promise you results in just minutes a day. However, as always you should be aware that abdominal training is merely one piece of the puzzle; if you're overweight and looking to get in shape, you must also engage in diet and/or cardiovascular training to actually to drop the pounds.

And, if you are considering purchasing one of these products, make sure you read all the fine print and research the firm to ensure it is reputable by checking with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer organizations and websites.

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