Let’s face it, everyone wants to have a
great set of abs but not everyone will put forth the effort it
takes to achieve them. For many of us the main ingredient we
lack is time. It takes time to build a great body or even stay
fit in today’s society. There are many stomach exercise
routines that do not require a lot of our time. Five to ten
minutes daily can drastically increase our abdominal strength.
In this article we will discuss some simple abdominal workouts
that will meet our needs and our schedules.
One of the first steps toward getting and
maintaining a strong healthy midsection is to set your self a
schedule and stick to it. By setting a workout schedule you
will in turn make the necessary steps needed to set aside time
for your exercises. It is also good to have a partner for your
workouts which in turn will keep you accountable for your
workout schedule. Choose a partner you can count on and one who
will motivate you to excel in your exercise routine.
Crunches are one of the best ways to gain
abdominal strength and get your abs to show them selves.
Starting with this simple exercise will help you gain strength
for more intense abdominal training. Crunches will work the
whole abdomen and give your abs balance and overall strength.
Crunches can also be done in various ways and from and incline
position to a decline position. This may not be your favorite
ab workout but it is proven affective.
Flutter kicks can also be a great way to
expose your abdominal muscles and get them tone. The reason
flutter kicks are great is due to the fact that they keep
constant pressure on your abdominal area in turn increasing
your stomach muscle endurance and strength. When performing
flutter kicks be sure to keep your feet no farther than six to
eight inches from the ground and your back and head leaning
forward to put pressure on your abdomen. Keep your kicks quick
and short working them in a scissor like motion.
One of the best ways to strengthen your
stomach is to run. Running can really help you to gain the
extra endurance needed to perform your abdominal exercises. It
is an iatrical part of body’s need for exercise. Though it may
not be your favorite thing to spend your time doing it will
benefit you beyond measure. Use what you have available to run,
your neighborhood or when your children are practicing in their
own sports you could be exercising instead of being a bleacher
warmer. Use your time wisely and make the best of your day to
reach your fitness goals.
If you do have a partner there are a few
great exercises that two people can do together. One is a
medicine ball. Stand back to back and hand the medicine ball
off to each other from side to side. This will really work your
abs hard and give them a great range of strength. One of the
best exercises for you to do with a partner would be for one of
you to lie on your back with your feet extended toward the sky,
lower your feet and have your partner push them from side to
side working your abdominals through resistance training. This
can really increase your stomach strength. If you have weights
available to you try getting in the sit up position and have
your partner hand you weights to hold across your chest. Now
you can perform regular sit ups with added weight increasing
your abdominal strength.
Stomach tightening exercises at work or at
home can also be of benefit to you when pressed for time.
Tighten your abdominal muscles for ten to twenty seconds at a
time and then release them, repeat this several times. This is
better than nothing and can give you a way of working your abs
and getting a better healthier midsection.
Take these well known tips and put them to
action and you will be on the road to a great set of abs!