In our day of modern fitness finesse, it’s time to ditch abs exercises like crunches and sit-ups in favor of ab workouts that build powerful bodies and whittled waistlines faster and more efficiently. It might surprise you to learn that you don’t even have to go to the gym to get the benefits of these powerful training techniques either. The most effective abdominal workouts can be done in the comfort of your own home, using everyday objects. Here are 10 of the most powerful abdominal exercises around:
The 3 Best Abs Exercises Using Your Own Body Weight
There are far more than three ab exercises that can be done using only your own body weight, of course, but for the sake of example the three we’ll mention here are: plank (and side-plank), the hanging leg raise, and the crocodile walk.
If you’re familiar with the yogic version of plank, the only difference here is that you rest your weight on your elbows and toes instead of your palms. The hanging leg raise can be done from a chin-up bar installed in a suitable doorway. To do the crocodile walk, assume a push-up position and crawl forward, first with the left arm-right leg, then the right arm, left leg.
The trick for all three of these super moves involves keeping your abdominal muscles tight while breathing normally, and keeping your neck, spine, and hips aligned. Start by trying to hold plank for at least 20 seconds – you’ll feel the power!
2 Gut-Blasting Abs Exercises Using Stability Balls
Stability balls are an excellent tool for core workouts as well as for melting that belly fat away. Two of the best ab workouts involving the use of a stability ball are the stability ball roll-out and the stability ball jackknife. Both of these moves provide an eccentric stretch for the abdominal muscles, as well as an increased challenge above using body weight for ab exercise alone.
5 “Strongman” Abs Exercises Using Sandbags
The total body strength training that old-time “farm-boys” had over modern trainees stems from the frequent handling of odd-shaped objects. While you may not have feed-bags or hay bales at your disposal to toss around, you can simulate the effect using training tools such as sandbags.
Sandbag moves to try to include are the one Arm Sandbag shouldering, “Atlas Pulls,” Cyclones, Shoulder Get-ups, and “Windshield Wipers.” All five of these sandbag moves will get your blood pumping immediately and will provide a total-body sculpting experience while strengthening both your core AND sculpting your six-pack.
It’s important to keep in mind when doing any of these exercises to start slowly and allow your muscles an opportunity to build up to the challenge over time. While many of the bodyweight only ab exercises can be done with relative safety by the novice, some of the moves (such as those involving the sandbags) are more advanced techniques, and are best learned under the guidance of a professional trainer.
Learning how to get ripped abs – and keep them for good – is a worthy goal which is worth taking the time to learn. Get creative and stay positively committed to your goals, and you’ll have that six-pack dream body in no time!