stomach exercises.

[skylines]

so I've been going to the gym almost everyday lately, and mostly I do the elliptical or treadmill. I've already noticed that my legs are a little slimmer, and this made me wonder, what are some of the best exercises for the stomach area? besides crunches, becuase I am seriously terrible at those. I usually try to do about 50 per day, but I can never be sure if I'm doing them right. what does one do about that disgusting flabby stomach, even if it's just to tone?

[superkitty721]

Ohh I am obsessed with ab exercises!
Crunches don't really work for me either, it never feels like its working, its like my muscles won't get that burn from them no matter how many I do.

Here are some that I use or have used:



Side reach
Stand with feet together, holding ends of one dumbbell with both hands, arms extended overhead. Slowly lean to left (as shown) and hold for one count. Return to start. Repeat on right side to complete one rep. Do 10 reps.
[I usually do more than 10 reps, and these are great for the sides of your stomach]



Bicycle Crunches
Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground (pull your abs down to also target your deep abs).
Put your hands behind your head.
Bring your knees in towards your chest and lift your shoulder blades off the ground, but be sure not to pull on your neck.
Straighten your right leg out to about a 45-degree angle to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow towards the left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.
Now switch sides and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep (and to create the "peddling" motion).
Do three sets of 20 reps.


Reverse Crunch
Lie on your back on the floor.
Place your hands on the floor beside you.
Bring the knees in towards the chest with your feet together, slowly and using your ab muscles. Otherwise this won't work to tone your abs.
Use your abs to slowly curl the hips off the floor and into your chest, now slowly lower them back to the starting position to complete one.
Do two sets of 25.
[You can also do this with your legs straight out. You keep your back as flat on the floor as possible, thumbs tucked under your butt, and slowly tighten your abs and raise your feet into the air and back down to complete one repitition.]



If you need more, please let me know!

[xxxMonxxx]

Hey,
I find that crunches and sit ups work for me but using the inverted leg press ( you lay on your back and there is a plate with a bar that you put weights on and u push with your legs Oh sooooooo great for your bum and tightens your abdomen and it really helps work it there too. Or get just a bar from bench press put it on your shoulders and twist that works your side muscles and back.:D

[superkitty721]

I forgot to add
since you are already doing the elliptical [which is great for burning fat off the abs, and contracts your abs because you're standing and balancing]
you can try tighten your ab muscles really hard as much as you can while doing the cardio workout
It will turn your fat-burning workout into an ab-toning workout too