Your Best Abs Exercises

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

22 May 2006 04:30 PM

As a part of my Sizzling Summer Slim down I've been using the Abs Diet to guide my weight loss and exercise regimen. Of the exercises I've been performing, there are two that I not only feel like give me the best results but feel great when I mastered performing them.

The Double Crunch

The Double Crunch is not a type of Cap'n Crunch cereal, instead it is an exercise that utilizes your entire abdominal area. You lie on the floor, looking up. You bend your knees at a 45-degree angle and make sure both of your feet are planted firmly on the floor. You should feel comfortably relaxed in this position. With your hands behind your head, you raise your head and legs off the floor and then return to the starting position. Keep your legs at the 45-degree angle and don't pull on your neck with your hands. The first few times you do this, you'll definitely feel a burn throughout your core. You may start off with only 5 to 7 of these at a time, but you can build up to 12 per set and more than one set per session.

The Bicycle Maneuver

This is another effective abdominal exercise that engages your entire core. You lay on the floor or a mat with your lower back in a comofrtable position. Put your hands to the sides of your head next to your ears. Bring your knees up to that 45-degree angle and slowly begin a bicycle-pedaling motion. You will target your left elbow to your right knee and your right elbow to your left knee. Be careful of putting strain on your lower back, and like the double crunch, it will take you some time to build up to multiple repetitions of this exercise.

Double the Punch

These two abdominal exercises are among the best I've ever tried to do. They tighten, flex and utilize all the muscles located in your abdominal and mid-section. You will feel a burn. You will feel a bit sore - the first couple of times I did these, I had trouble sitting up the next day. But over time, I built up my core strength and I can feel the ripple effect of burning excess abdominal fat and tightening up my mid section. Strengthening your core will also help you in every other area of your life.

What are your favorite abdominal exercises?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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