Is your core strong enough? If not, then you should be focusing on these exercises. There are 5 amazing exercises to improve your ab strength. In this blog post, we will go over each of the five exercises in detail so that you can get started right away.
#1 Planks
The plank is an exercise that can be done from just about any place. Stand up, get in a pushup position, and then bend your elbows to 90 degrees with your hands on the ground until they are underneath your shoulders. Now extend your legs straight back behind you while balancing yourself by keeping most of your weight on the balls of your feet and your toes.
In order to make it more difficult, try these variations: Plank with one arm outstretched in front of you or do a side plank by bending your elbows and lifting up on your hand that is furthest from the floor.
You can also plank from the knee down instead of from the ankle down.
Do 5 sets of planks for 60 seconds each or until you start to form a slight burn in your abs. This exercise can be performed as a finisher, as a workout, or around your day.
#2 Crunches
Crunches are an exercise where you lie down flat on your back and bring your hands to your chest with palms facing the ceiling. Now pull your knees up so that they are bent at 90 degrees and place feet flat on the floor, then contract abdominal muscles by lifting shoulders towards your thighs.
Effective variations of crunches include adding a twist to the exercise by rotating your torso and bringing your left elbow towards your right knee, or adding weight with a weighted vest.
Do about 25 crunches for one set in order to see good results. The crunch is best performed as an isolation movement at the end of workouts when you are targeting specific muscles that will be worked out.
#3 Leg Raises
Leg raises are an exercise where you lie down on your back, then bend at the waist and raise one leg up in front of you as high as it will go without bending or twisting that hip. Extend knee to a 90-degree angle while keeping toes pointed forward. Lower foot towards the ground slowly until just before touching the floor and repeat with other leg.
Leg raises are great for targeting the front abdominal muscles. Make the exercise more difficult by extending your leg to a right angle, or lifting both legs at once for an alternative variation with twice as many reps and greater difficulty level.
You can do these without weights, but you can also hold a weight plate or dumbbell with both hands. Do these 25 times on each leg for one set of the exercise.
#4 Bicycle Crunches
Bicycle crunches are an exercise where you lie down on your back and place your hands behind your head. Now pull knees up to chest then extend one leg out in front of you at a 45-degree angle as if pedaling a bicycle, hold for two seconds before switching sides.
You'll know you're doing the bicycle crunches correctly if you can see your stomach muscles working.
Bicycle crunches are excellent for working the entire abdominal area. Do about 25 crunches for one set of this exercise in order to see good results.
#5 V-Sit Ups
V-sit ups are an exercise where you lie down on your back and place your hands flat behind your head. Now lift the upper body off ground to create a V shape, hold for two seconds before returning back to starting position.
V-sit ups are particularly useful for working the lower abdominal muscles and can be done with your legs extended in front of you or bent at a 90-degree angle.
The best time of day to do these is either as a warm-up before working out, or after other exercises when you want to target specific muscles.
Do about 25 V-sit ups for one set of the exercise. V-sit ups are excellent for developing the abdominal muscles and have a high endurance.