| When it comes to getting a solid six pack, doing the | | | | While this will not necessarily get you 'cut' so that all |
| right ab exercises is crucial. You can spend hours | | | | your individual muscles are showing - that takes |
| doing needless sit-ups that aren't really going to have | | | | having low levels of body fat, what weighted |
| all that much benefit, much to your disappointment. | | | | movements will do is help further build the muscle |
| Taking the time to choose smart ab exercises will | | | | tissue and make your abs "pop". |
| save you not only gym time, but a great deal of | | | | The more muscle mass you have, the faster your |
| frustration as well. In this article we will discuss the | | | | metabolic rate will then be, so in an indirect way, that |
| best lower ab exercises and the best home ab | | | | could in fact help you burn off excess body fat. |
| exercises as well. | | | | Furthermore, doing weighted movements will also |
| The best movements for the abdominal muscles are | | | | increase your strength greatly, reducing the risk of |
| going to be ones that reduce your overall stability. | | | | injuries from any other type of exercise you may |
| The reason for this is because this will require all your | | | | attempt. Weighted ball crunches with a stability ball |
| muscle tissues, even the ones deep within the core, | | | | on your chest is my favorite home ab exercises. |
| to contract in order to maintain balance. When you | | | | When choosing when to perform your ab exercises, |
| perform regular sit-ups, for example, they are really | | | | if you are looking for performance, do them on a |
| only going to target the more superficial muscles; one | | | | separate day from all your other work. Just like any |
| that will still help, but not get you near the results | | | | muscle group, you want to be fresh when you do |
| you could be seeing. | | | | them. |
| So what ab exercises are ones that reduce your | | | | If, on the other hand, you are more just doing them |
| balance? | | | | to help build some strength, but more to round out |
| Basically, anything done on an unstable surface is | | | | your exercise program, then you should be doing |
| going to get the job done. This would include | | | | them at the end of your workout session. This will |
| movements such as walking across a balance beam, | | | | prevent them from fatiguing early, because they are |
| performing one leg squats, one arm shoulder presses, | | | | going to be predominately used in all the other lifts |
| or bent over dumbbell rows standing on one leg and | | | | you perform (heavy squats for example). |
| of course, utilizing an exercise ball for any laying | | | | In many cases this rule can be bent though. For |
| abdominal movement you perform. Working on a | | | | example, if a client comes to me and their abs are |
| BOSU ball and stability ball ab exercises are also | | | | the weakest muscle group then performing them at |
| excellent options. As long as you have a set of free | | | | the end of the workout makes no sense because |
| weights and stability ball then these would qualify as | | | | they will be pre fatigued from the workout and you |
| your best home ab exercises as well. | | | | will not be able to train them as intensely so |
| By far the most effective lower ab exercises are | | | | prioritizing your abs at the start of the workout can |
| hanging leg raises while you use your lower abs to | | | | become the exception in this case. |
| rotate your pelvis which is the secret to performing | | | | So, next time you are creating your workout and are |
| this effectively. Lying leg raises, lying leg raises on a | | | | picking out ab exercises, keep these points in mind. |
| 45 degree incline and cable crunches are also rock | | | | Having good dedication to performing these exercises |
| hard ab exercises. | | | | on a regular basis and then following a clean diet |
| Another area you might want to venture into with | | | | based around raw vegetables and proteins are the |
| your ab exercises are those that utilize heavy | | | | two main components to developing that six-pack |
| weights. | | | | you're hoping for. |