3 Best Abs Exercises For Building That 6 Pack

3 Best Abs Exercises For Building That 6 Pack

In recent years there has been a revolution in the emphasis we place on our bodies. With all the diet pills, powders and potions on the market, it’s no wonder we are heavier as a nation than we have ever been in history. One of the things that we all seem to desire is a perfectly flat and well toned abdominal area. In this article we will briefly look at creating that perfect six-pack and the three best abs exercises.

There are primarily two reasons why we want to look good. Firstly we want to look good because it makes us feel good. When you feel good about your body it gives you an inner sense of pride and esteem for your ‘self’. Secondly, we want to look good to others because this makes us more attractive to them. In our culture there seems to be an emphasis on looking good and it is one of those things we value. A great body is something that is both valued and admired and looking good obviously makes you feel more ‘worthy’ and admired.

Well toned abdominal muscles (abs) or a six-pack, as it is commonly referred to, is in many ways a symbol of health and fitness. Mainly because it is probably the most problematic area of anyone’s body. We therefore value it highly and someone with six-pack abs must be incredibly committed, healthy, fit and strong – or at least that is the ‘hidden’ reasoning behind it and that is why you subconsciously want great abs. So, how do you get those great abs? Here are the three best abs exercises:

Best Abs Exercise #1 - Sit-Ups
This is the one that everybody seems to know about but the majority of people do wrong. Remember that the smallest adjustments can make all the difference and we want our workouts to be as effective as possible to get the most out of every minute we exercise. Here’s how to do proper sit ups:

Lie flat on the floor with your legs stretched out and your arms beside you. Lift your knees up by bringing your feet closer towards your body – about the distance from your heels to your carve muscle. Cross your hands over your chest and lift your body all the way up so that even your lower back lifts off the floor. Stay there for about 3 seconds and then gently lower yourself. Repeat about 20 of these in 3 to 4 sets, but don’t strain yourself – especially if you haven’t done it for a while. As you build your ab muscles you can start making it more challenging by sitting on an inclined bench or by holding a weight over your chest.

Best Abs Exercise #2 - Crunches
Once again, lying flat on your back, pull your legs towards your body slightly. With your arms crossed over your chest tighten your abs by ‘pulling’ your abdomen towards your spine as you inhale. Now lift your shoulders off the floor and don’t lift your body all the way up – you just need to lift your shoulders to tighten your abs. As you lift your shoulders you want to exhale. Stay there for about 3 seconds and gently lower your shoulders. In the lowered position you should relax your abs. Now repeat.

The key here is to focus only on your abdominal area as you do this. Flexing your abs and proper breathing is essential – remember that your breathing originates in your abdomen with your diaphragm. Repeat 10 to 20 times and do 3 to 4 sets of these.

Best Abs Exercise #3 - Leg Lifts
Your abs are a very important muscle group as it is a ‘pivot point’ in your body. With leg lifts we use this deliberately to tone our abs. Lie flat on your back with your legs extended and your arms beside you. Place your hands flat on the floor beside you and in this position, with your legs straight, lift your legs up as far as you can. Preferably your legs should be up in a 90 degree angle with the floor, but this might be difficult for some at first. Then, slowly lower your legs, but do not let your feet touch the ground. Repeat 10 to 20 times and do 3 to 4 sets of these.

These three exercises are by no means the only way to get great abs. In my opinion they are the best abs exercises, but you still have to combine them with proper cardiovascular exercise like running, swimming or cycling as it will help you loose weight while also targeting the abdominal muscles. And last, but not least, you have to control your diet. Fatty foods tend to ‘gather’ around the abdominal area which might make your workouts worthless.

Amazing Abs Exercises

Amazing Abs Exercises

Mix up your core routine with the moves that will get you a six-pack

Abdominal exercises themselves will not burn fat, but you want to strengthen your abs so they're there to show off when the fat does vanish. Build a strong core and your abdominals will pop out of your midsection the way Tara Reid pops out of a dress.

These abdominal exercises can serve as the ultimate abdominal reference manual, and we've also included new exercises. The best part about these exercises is that you can treat them like a good wardrobe—mix and match them, change them from workout to workout, try ones you've never tried before, and construct your own circuit from any of the exercises. All you have to do is follow these guidelines:

Work out your abs 2 or 3 days a week

Abs develop when they're at rest, not when you're working them. So working them every day doesn't give them a chance to grow and get strong. You will develop abs by working them two or three times a week. I'd recommend adding the ab circuit to the beginning of your strength-training workout. Saving them until the end of the workout means there's more possibility that you'll skimp and take shortcuts.

Pick different exercises every workout

There are hundreds of ways to work your abs, but you need to pick only five exercises each workout. The key is variety: Changing your routine doesn't allow your abs to get comfortable, so they'll continue to grow after each workout.

Do a circuit

In the first week of workouts, do just one set of each of your five exercises. (A set is 10 to 15 repetitions, depending on the exercise.) In the second and third weeks, do two sets if you'd like, but perform them in circuits—that is, do all of the exercises once before repeating any of them. After that, you can increase to three circuits.

Go slow

Each rep of an ab exercise should last slightly longer than Richard Hatch's fame—4 to 6 seconds. Any faster, and you run the risk of letting momentum do the work. The slower you go, the higher the intensity. The higher the intensity, the stronger the stomach.

Pick any five exercises from the following sections. Perform in a circuit with no more than 30 seconds of rest (1 minute in some cases)—one exercise followed by the next. Rest. After Week 1, repeat the circuit. Some exercises use such equipment as medicine balls, dumbbells, or cable machines—and with some of the more advanced moves, you'll need a partner. If you're just starting out, pick beginner exercises. As you progress (using a smaller number of repetitions or eliminating equipment) to get the feel of more advance moves.


Steam Engine

Stand with your hands behind your head. Touch your left elbow to your right knee by bending and raising the knee while crunching your left armpit toward your right hip. Return to the starting position and repeat to the opposite side, crunching your right armpit toward your left hip.

16-20 repetitions (Beginner)

Toe Tap

Lie on your back and place your hands behind your ears. Lift your legs until your knees are above your hips and your lower legs are parallel to the floor. Press your lower back against the floor and crunch forward until your shoulders are off the floor. With your toes pointed down, lower your right foot as far as you can without lifting your back off the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat with your left leg.

10 repetitions (Beginner to intermediate)

Seated Twist

Sit on the floor, your back straight but leaning slightly toward the floor, as if in the "up" position of a situp. Your knees should be bent 90 degrees, your feet about 15 inches apart and resting on the floor. (Your feet can either stay flat or you can raise your toes so that just your heels are touching the floor.) Hold a medicine ball close to your chest, rotate your torso to the left, and place the ball on the floor behind you. Rotate around to the right, pick up the ball, rotate left, and place it behind you.

16-20 repetitions (Intermediate)