Most of us are still wondering what the right exercises for washboard absare, much less how to do them. Find out the most effective exercises for toning, strengthening, and ripping your abs.
Before you begin exercising, make sure that you’ve got a diet and workout plan in place. Exercises are important, but getting washboard abs requires a healthy diet and cardio workout, as well.
The most effective exercises for a set of washboard abs are:
- Weighted Sit Ups
- Ball Crunches
- Full Body Crunches
- Bicycles
Begin with 5 repetitions of each exercise and gradually work up to 20, several times per week. To avoid injury, start out slowly and step up your workout at your own pace.
Weighted Sit Ups
Required: A small weight or similarly sized object(a hardcover book or bag of flour)
- Lie down on the floor with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent.
- Place the weight on your chest and hold it in place with both hands.
- Contract your abdominal muscles.
- Slowly lift your head and back up from the floor, while keeping your feet on the ground.
- Go up as high as you can and hold it for a second.
- Then slowly return down and repeat.
Ball Crunches
Required: An exercise ball
- Place your feet flat on the floor and sit on the exercise ball.
- Lie back slowly, letting the ball gently roll until your thighs and torso are in a parallel line with the floor.
- Begin raising your torso halfway up, while contracting your abdominal muscles.
- When you reach a 45 degree incline, stop and lie back down slowly.
Full Body Crunches
- Lie down on the floor.
- Bend your knees and place your hands across your chest.
- Contract your abdominal muscles.
- Bring your shoulder blades up off of the floor several inches while bringing your knees up at the same time.
- Hold this position for a few seconds and then lower yourself.
Bicycle
- Lie flat on the floor.
- Rest your hands up next to your head and bring your knees halfway up.
- Begin a bicycling motion with your legs.
- Alternate between touching your left elbow to your right knee and your right elbow to your left knee. Repeat.
When exercising, common sense and safety should be observed. If possible, exercise on an exercise mat or carpeted floor in a room with a moderate temperature. Keep yourself well hydrated. If you feel burning or tingling, perform less repetitions at one time.
If you follow these exercises for washboard abs and maintain a sensible diet and workout plan, soon you’ll have that washboard look you’ve always wanted.
What other exercises for washboard abs can you think of? Add to the list by leaving your comments below.