Free Ab Workout Routine

Ab exercises may not be your favorite, however there are tons of free ab workout routine options because it's so easy to work the abdominals without expensive equipment. Your own body weight and effective use of your breath are more than sufficient to get a good ab workout. Whether your goal is to obtain completely flat abs by losing the layer of fat, or if you're really looking for killer washboard abs, you can reach either goal by exercising your abs regularly and obtaining a healthy body weight.

Tips for Great Abs

It can be disappointing for many people to realize that it's impossible to make the abs look good when they are covered in a thick layer of fat. The only way for you (and others) to see all the hard work you've been doing through a free ab workout routine is to lose that extra layer of fat. In order to do this, these tips are essential:

• Eat a healthy diet: Limit total fat intake, strictly limit saturated fats and eliminate trans fats. Eat a balanced diet with adequate carbohydrates and lean protein, but don't overdue these two groups. Eat a wide variety of vegetables (unlimited) and two to three servings of fruit per day.
• Do cardio training: Depending on your level of fitness, start or augment your cardio routine in order to increase metabolism and burn stored fat.
• Reduce stress: Get adequate sleep and actively manage stress. Cortisol triggers fat storage and can cause food cravings as well.
• Stay hydrated: Keep your energy levels up and your body processing your food intake by drinking adequate amounts of water. If you are exercising every day, you will need far more fluids than on a day when exercise is not present.

Free Ab Workout Routine

An ab workout routine can be as basic or as complicated as your fitness level permits. For this reason, the ab exercises selected here are divided into a beginner/intermediate and an intermediate/advanced workout. Before beginning either, get the approval of your physician.

Beginner/Intermediate Exercises

• Leg Crunches: Had enough of lifting your head? Leg crunches involve lifting the legs instead of the head, which reduces neck strain. Lie with your back flat, bend your knees and then lift your feet up off the floor, bringing your knees into your chest.
• Stability Ball Crunches: Sitting with a stability ball in your lower back (not under your bottom), do some crunches on the ball. A wide range of motion is not necessary to get a big effect. Simply roll up until you feel your abs contract. Hold the position and breathe in and out softly.
• Crossed Crunches: Lie on the floor with your knees bent, then cross your right ankle over your left knee. Do a normal crunch, but bring your left elbow to your right ankle, targeting the side abdominal muscles. Alternate sides in order to target both sets of obliques.

Intermediate/Advanced Exercises

• Yoga Boat Pose: Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you, knees slightly bent and your arms extended out on either side of your body. Slowly lift your feet off the floor, leaning back slightly so that your body is still balanced sitting on the floor. Raise your legs as high as you can and bring your arms in front of your body, in front of your extended legs. This is a very difficult pose, but has big results!
• Yoga Plank Pose: Easier to manage than the previous pose, this one is carried out by first lying on your stomach. Curl your toes underneath you so that the muscles in the backs of your legs stretch. Lift your torso off the floor, extending your straight arms underneath your shoulders. Use all the muscles (including your abs) in your body to stabilize and hold yourself here, keeping your back straight and your pelvis tucked in. Hold the pose as long as you comfortably can.
• Ball Roll Up: Using a stability ball in your hands, lie down with your back flat on the floor with your arms fully extended behind your head on the ground. Lift the ball slowly up and over your head and proceed to fully sit up, bringing the ball over your legs and eventually your feet. Rolling up and rolling back down should be done in a slow, controlled manner for maximum effect.

In addition to these free options, it's also an idea to invest in an ab exercise DVD if you find it difficult to envision how these exercises look in practice. For beginners, watching a demonstration of each exercise can be easier than reading a description of it. Whether you opt for our free workout or invest in a DVD, remember that abs take time to develop, but that, in time, you will reach your goals!

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

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

• Captain's Chair Ab Exercise
• Abdominal Crunches
• Medicine Ball Ab Exercises
• Exercise Ball Ab Workout
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