5 Exercises for your Abs

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Sunday March 21, 2010

The Spare Tire, The Muffin Top? Words you don’t generally want to use to describe your mid-section. The Washboard? Now we're talking.

Trainer George starts by clarifying one big misconception: "spot reduction". Instead of hundreds of gut-wrenching crunches every workout session, it's really about smart choices and a healthy balance of exercise, nutrition, and rest

Foods that boost your spare tire square footage include sugar, salt, fatty meats, and white bread. In addition to a healthier lifestyle, George offers 5 abdominal exercises to kick-start your journey to a slender, toned waistline.

(1) The vertical leg crunch: Like a regular crunch but legs are up (vertically). Contract your abs and rise up until your shoulder blades are off the floor. Repeat for 3 sets of 15.

(2) Dumbbell side bends: Bend your torso to the left and return to the centre. Repeat to the right. Repeat for 3 sets of 12 (equal on each side).

(3) Captain's Chair leg raises: This is the rack you find in most gyms. There are padded arms that allow your legs to hang. Rest your elbows on the elbow support and position the lumbar support pad in the small of your back. Pull your knees up to your chest, rounding your back to contract your abdominals correctly. Repeat for 3 sets of 10.

(4) Crunches: Standard crunch. Still works! Repeat for 3 sets of 12.

(5) Bicycle Crunch: Alternate straightening one leg out, while twisting, leading with the shoulder to the opposite knee. Repeat for 3 sets of 12 (doing equal activity on each side).

by Megan Matthews

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1 Comment

on Mar 22, 2010 Ali de Bold said:

Megan, you are the most adorable fitness model. I love it! This morning at (shudder) 7am I was doing bicycles and scissors and crunches. Although ab exercises can be a pain I do find them very effective and it's worth it when you have something snug you'd like to wear.