Posts Tagged ‘excess belly fat’

When you think about exercises for abs, you’re most likely associating them with these two words: sit ups. Truth be told, they’re the most common form of abs exercise out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if my grandmother knew what they were.

Nevertheless, you need to recognize that there are other more efficient ways to get abs than just sit ups. You need to mix them up, add some variety, and do them regularly for you to get fast results.

Combining these abdominal muscle exercises with a complete body workout and a well-balanced diet is practically full-proof. Keep all three components present and thriving, and you will definitely see results fast.

Recent studies show that ball crunches, full body crunches, weighted sit ups, and bicycles are the 4 most effective exercises to sculpt a no nonsense 6 pack fast. I’ll tell you why:

1. Bicycles. These exercises work not only your upper, lower, and side abdominals, but also other muscle groups such as the arms, lower back, and legs. To start off, simply lie down on the ground and place your hands on the sides of your head. Bend your knees and begin alternating cycling movements with your legs. As your right knee comes in, lift and twist so that your left elbow touches it. Repeat on the other side.

2. Weighted Sit Ups. These exercises for abs add resistance to your workout, giving your abs a little extra to work with. It’s basically a sit up with an added twist and increased difficulty. All you need for this exercise are light to moderately heavy weight simulators, like a pair of 1 lb. dumbbells or a hardbound book, which you will need to hold over your chest with your hands. Proceed by lifting your torso upward, holding it there for a few seconds, and coming back down, just like with regular sit ups.

3. Full Body Crunches. As the name implies, these exercises work your arms, back, and legs, just like bicycles. To begin, simply lie down, place your hands across your chest, and bend at the knees. Lift your torso up the floor and pull in both knees at the same time. Go back down and start all over.

4. Ball Crunches. These exercises for abs are responsible for working your entire core while promoting balance. It’s very simple yet challenging, and I guess that’s the beauty of it. To start off, sit on an exercise ball. Lie back slowly until your upper body and thighs are parallel to the ground. Start doing regular crunches – you’ll instantly feel the added tension since you’re performing them on an unstable surface. With the ball, you get padded support for your back and a taste of variety.

Work these 4 easy exercises for abs into your ab workout routines and you can bid farewell to excess belly fat for good.