The Health Biz

When beginning an abdominal workout routine, for most people who ask the question of how to get six packs - the goal is simple: getting a flatter stomach fast. While a fit stomach looks great, it’s less of an accomplishment if your belly muscles haven’t got stronger. In addition to slimming your outer abdominals, it’s also crucial to build up strength in your core abs. Below are some stomach exercises that work out the core to build strong muscles throughout the abdomen, and will help you get 6 pack abs in no time.

The Tone Your Torso Workout
Begin this stomach exercise on all fours, knees and hands on the floor. Keep your stomach pulled in and extend your left arm out in front of you (football fans, imagine a referee signaling first down). Keep this arm stretched out as you stretch your right leg behind you. Switch legs and arms, and do it again for an entire set. Take care not to let your pelvis swing out of position.

The Butt Burner
You’ll have to lay on your back for this exercise. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor, and position your arms at your sides. Squeeze your buttocks as you lift your pelvis off the floor. Keep the rest of your body in line. Raise up your pelvis to around 45 degrees, so your torso from your head to your knees makes a straight ramp. Hold this for three to five seconds before slowly lowering your pelvis back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

The Crunchless Crunch
This abs exercise is pretty easy in theory, but can be quite difficult to do. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine. This can be difficult, as it means using muscles which you may not be used to utilising. To begin, either lay on your stomach or kneel down. You may like to try both ways, and ascertain which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for 10 seconds. If this feels good, hold for a little longer. The aim is to hold the contraction until you either can’t feel it, or you feel your other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let out the contraction.

The Scissor Kicks Exercise
This stomach routine also requires laying down on the floor. Position your hands under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As your raise one leg, lower the other. Repeat this motion for an entire set. Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the better of you. Your torso should stay on the floor throughout the whole move.

These are just a sample of the many strength building abs exercises out there. If you are looking to build strength in your midsection, look for any exercise that works your core, especially the transverse abdominal muscles. Many components of Pilates are good for this as well, and make getting 6 pack abs easy.

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