The Exercise For Abs Authority

Have you ever wondered if there is a perfect exercise for abs, an exercise that will generate results you are looking for? 

Having a lean, tone, defined mid-section is a goal for almost everyone, and that is why most people want information on abdominal workouts.  But did you know that training your core, which includes abdominals, lower back, and all the postural muscles, can also help relieve lower back pain, improve sport performance, and reduce the risk of injury for people of all ages? 

In this blog, we are going to describe and dissect all the various ab exercises, diets, popular information, and even misconceptions that many people have about improving the way their abs look.

The best exercises for abs are those that engage all the abdominal and postural muscles, including the transverse abdominus, recuts abdominus, obliques, erector spinae (to name a few).  When someone has ’six pack abs’, the person has not only strengthened their abs by performing certain exercises, but also followed a diet and exercise routine that allows them to have a low enough body fat percentage that the abdominal muscles are visible.

Some basic exercises for abs include the plank, the crunch, and leg lifts, all of which can be performed on the floor with an exercise mat.  To perform the plank, simply lie face down and prop yourself up on your elbows and toes, keep yourself in a perfectly straight line, parallel to the floor, and hold it for as long as you can.  Don’t allow yourself to drop your hips to low or stick your butt into the air.  If you experience back pain, you should stop. 

To perform crunches, lie face up on your exercise mat with knees bent, place hands behind head and keep a space between your chin and chest, lift your torso a few inches off the ground and repeat.  To perform leg lifts, continue lying face up but straighten legs and place hands under hips.  Lift both legs up and down in a slow controlled motion.  While a correctly performed plank will activate all the postural muscles, crunches focus on the upper portion of the rectus abdominus and leg lifts focus on the lower portion.  Performing these three exercises for abs is a great start to developing a well-rounded ab work out.

If your goal is to ‘get a six pack’, then you must also eat a fairly clean diet, do resistance training, and regular cardiovascular workouts.  Your diet should be free of fatty and processed foods but loaded with lots of veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains.  Resistance training should be at least three times per week for both women and men, and cardio should vary in intensity, time, and type.

Finding the perfect exercise for abs is actually a process based on your goals.  Having a six pack, reducing back pain, sports conditioning, and injury prevention are all great reasons to learn about how to properly work your core and postural muscles and feel your best.