Blog Archives
20 Terrific Tummy Tightening Exercises
There are a lot more exercises to work your abs than just crunches. Unfortunately, many people can’t think of more than 3 or 4 abdominal exercises, so they get tired of the few they know pretty quick.
ABsolutely Awesome Give-A-Way
Today I’m going to not only give you 20 of some of my favorite ab exercises you can put to the test, but I’m going to give you a chance to share some of your favorite exercises for a CHANCE TO WIN a HUGE Designer Whey protein package that will keep you stocked up for the ENTIRE YEAR!!
All you need to do is post your favorite ab exercisE below (even if it’s listed already). In the comments on this blog, post as many exercises as you want (as separate comments) and share it on your social media! Share a whole ab workout if you want! The more you share and the more exercises you comment, the more chances you have to win!! You have until midnight October 6th to enter. I will announce a winner Monday!
20 Terrific Tummy Tightening Exercises
Crunch
- Sit-up
- Reverse Crunch
- Cable Crunch or Kneeling Band Crunch
- Plate Crunch
- Bicycle Crunch
- Flutter Kick
- Oblique Crunch
- Snowboarder Crunch
- Crunch And Punch
- Toes to Bar
- Take It Or Leave It Abdominal Crunch
- Snow Angel
- V-up
- Side V-up
- Knee Raise or Hanging Knee Raise
- Plank
- Side Plank
- Pulse Side Plank
- 2-Point Stance
Here is the cool matching graphic for Pinteresters and Instagrammers! 🙂 Have fun!!
30 Days of Motivation: The Truth About Training Your Abs
In yesterday’s blog I talked about how it would take 8,250 sit ups to erase one cheeseburger. Why did I pick sit ups for the exercise? I didn’t choose it because it’s the most effective exercise. I chose to use sit ups as my example simply because many people are still under the impression you can work your belly off with ab exercises.
While many people would say it’s a “no-brainer”, that you need to do cardio to burn calories (or stored fat) over doing a specific exercise to target one area, tell that to the millions of people who spend their hard-earned money on silly ab-flattening devices. Why? Because dumping money on a chance to get abs with ease is a lot more tempting than trimming down the hard (and right) way.
If you want to lose your belly fat, tighten your midsection, and see a six-pack, here are 25 ways to waste your money.
25 Ab Gadgets You DON’T Need
Ab Rocket
- Ab Glider
- Ab Lounge
- Six Second Abs
- Ab Roller
- Ab Rocker
- Ab Wheel
- Ab Doer
- Ab Flyer
- Ab Force
- Abs of Steel
- Ab Coaster
- Go-Fit Core Ab Ball
- Flex Belt Abs Toner
- Waist Trimmer
- The Crazy Abs
- Ab Energizer
- Ab Circle Pro
- Semi-Recumbent Ab Bench
- Abmat Abdominal Exerciser
- Slendertone Abdominal Muscle Toner
- Body by Jake Abs Exerciser
- Ab Rocket Twister
- Velform Sauna Belt
- Multi Core Flex Pro Ab Gym
NOTE: If you are bowing up right now, and about to post a comment telling me how much you love your Ab Wheel, hold your breath. I’m not saying that some of the ab devices don’t actually work your abs (although most of the items on the list are junk). What I’m saying is, you don’t need them to get great abs – plain and simple! 🙂
Fact or Fiction: You Can Target Belly Fat
If you REALLY want to get rid of all those past mistakes stuck to your belly, you need to improve your diet and do cardio. There’s really no other way around it. You can’t target fat, and isolate what you want to lose, and what you don’t. Answer is No. You can’t target belly fat.
For instance, you can’t hop on the Ab Wheel and lose just belly fat, just as much as you can’t do a bunch of cardio to just lose belly fat – but here’s what you CAN expect.
Ab Machines: Tighten, strengthen, build, and tone specific muscles.
Tip: Ab machines are great for tightening stomach muscles, which can make it easier to hold your stomach in, and keep your tummy flat. They also can help build each individual abdominal muscle (the “cube-like” squares) so your abs have that six-pack appearance. The leaner you get, the more definition you will see.
Cardio Machines: Burn calories, burn fat, and improve overall muscle tone.
Tip: Cardio helps melt the fat that covers your abdominal muscles. If you do cardio that incorporates upper body movement, like boxing, running, elliptical, and aerobics, you can increase calorie burn and tighten the core from the rotation in your upper body. However, the primary reason most people do cardio is to burn calories to manage weight.
Diet: Controls body weight, body fat, and muscle mass.
Tip: Even if you do abs exercises, and do a ton of cardio, none of that matters if you replace the calories burned by just eating more food. That’s why diet is SO important while on the quest for six-pack abs.
Here is a great workout that will get your heart rate up, as well as tone your core!
5-Minute Abs Circuit
Do each exercise for 60 seconds each, back to back, with little to no rest between exercises. I use the Gymboss Interval Timer to track my time.
1. Burpees
2. Sit Ups
3. Oblique Crunch (L)
4. Oblique Crunch (R)
5. Plate Crunch 25lb plate or 15lb-25lb dumbbell
Repeat 3 – 5 times
Today’s Motivational Quote:
THE SIX-PACK: 6 Awesome Ab Workouts
In a Crunch (Literally!)?
I know how easy it is to get bored of workouts, but there really is life outside of traditional crunches and sit-ups. It just takes a little imagination, knowledge or guidance from a pro like my hubby Steve. Over the last year Steve has come up with some great workouts – and ab workouts are always a fav! I mean, who doesn’t want great abs?!
Here are some of my favorite ab exercises that Steve put together for various brands and workout programs – and as you can tell in his pic, they work! Not only will they give you a great workout too, but you’ll learn some new moves to broaden your exercise library.
Give them a try and let us know which one you like the most!
#1 Four-Minute Abs
20 Rock Climbers
20 Figure 8 Ball Pass
20 Reverse Crunch
20 Ball Crunch
4 ROUNDS
#2 Core & Cardio Workout
Thrusters
Left Handed 2-Point Stance
Right Handed 2-Point Stance
Left Elbow Plank with Pulses
Right Elbow Plank with Pulses
#3 Abs & Core Circuit with Balance Ball
25 Rotational Crunches
25 Dynamic Plank
25 Take It or Leave It
25 Oblique Side Bend
#4 Design Your Abs Workout
25 Sit Ups
25 Roll Ups or Toes to Bar
25 Oblique Sit Ups (25 on each side – 50 total)
Repeat 3 Times.
#5 Core & Glutes
Plank (10 seconds)
Upward Facing Dog (10 seconds)
10 Rounds
Sunbird Leg 3-Position Leg Lifts
10 circles per position (back, 45 degree, 90 degree)
3 Rounds
Plank + Knee to Opposite Elbow (a sit-through)
10 times on each side
REPEAT ENTIRE CIRCUIT
#6 BCx Core
25 Sit-ups
25 Crunches
25 Obliques (Left)
25 Obliques (Right)
25 Bicycles