Exercising and toning abs is not only so you can look good. It is important to have toned abs because they affect your overall look and health. The deep abdominal muscles are responsible for back support and flattening your waist. It is important that when you exercise your abs, you tone all of them. The better developed your abdominal muscles are, the straighter you can stand, the less you are prone to back pain, and the deeper you can breathe. Here is a look at a few simple exercises to get the abs toned and working for you.
Vertical crunch – This move involves using the lower and upper body as you strengthen the abdominal muscles. Lying on your back with your hands behind your head, lift your legs straight up. Then tighten your abdominal muscles to lift the shoulders a few inches from the floor. Your objective it to push your belly button into your spine as you lifts up. Do this slowly without force, and then lower your slowly shoulders.
Russian twist – This is also called the oblique twist since that is the muscle group it works on. Using a medicine ball, sit with your knees bent and feet flat, while holding the ball extended in front of you. Tighten the abs and lean back to a 45-degree angle or as far as you can. Simply twist from side to side, bringing the ball down to touch the floor on either side of you with each twist. Always keep the abs tight with each movement.
Oblique crunch – This type of crunch will target the whole abdominal muscle. Lie on a mat with knees bent, feet flat, and hands on the sides of your head. With your knees together, let them drop slowly to the right side of your body until they are near or touching the floor. Push your back into the floor so it is not arching and then slowly lift your shoulders by tightening your abs. Lift only a few inches and hold a couple seconds then lower. When you are finished with one side, repeat on the other.
The v-sit up is perfect for working the internal and external obliques as well as the rectus abdominis. To do this move, you sit on a mat with your knees bent. Tighten you abdominals and lift your legs until they are at a 45 degree or as high as you can. As you put your arms straight out or upwards, you use your core and stay still. This relies solely on the abs to hold you in place. At first, a few seconds is all you’ll be able to do, but in time, it will build up.
As you are strengthening your abs, you can strengthen the shoulders and back also with the plank exercise. It is necessary to remember that while you do this exercise, abs must be tight at all times and you must remember to breathe. To prepare, you lie on the floor face down, but rest on the forearms. Keeping your forearms on the floor, you push yourself up, balancing the back of your body with the toes. Keep your body in as straight of a line as possible, this way your abs will do all the work. Hold for about a minute and then lower slowly.
Toning abs is the only way to produce and strengthen the belt your body needs for back support. Abdominal exercises will do this as well as reducing any risk of back pain, help you breathe easier, and flatten your waist. You can look good and feel good at the same time when you keep your abs in shape.
When your goal is toning abs, you know it takes determination and persistence. It also helps to locate the best abs exercise and add it to your regular routine.