Planks for the Abs. The Best Ab Exercise in My Opinion!

This is the best ab exercise in my opinion. It is hard to explain without a diagram, so here it is. Hold this position for 2 minutes if possible and do 2-3 sets. Your abs will be toast, but in 2-3 months they will be transformed. This one is healthy for the back as well!

You can also do this one on an exercise ball, which ads a degree of difficulty.

clipped from exercise.about.com Prev Next 10 of 10 View Full Size Plank The plank exercise ranked number 10 in the ACE study and is a great way to build endurance in both the abs and back, as well as stabilizer muscles. To do it right: 1. Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor. 2. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows. 3. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels. 4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air. 5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.

Get Six Pack Abs With Less Effort

It Is Crazy That So Few People Have Six Pack Abs!

It is pretty rare to see someone in the real world with great six pack abs. For the most part you can see great 6 pack abs in movies and magazines, but you don't see guys or gals with six packs in the gym. It is almost to the point where people think that 6 pack abs were only meant for movie stars or actors. People need to quit thinking that way, if they ever want to get a great washboard stomach.

Toned Abs are More Impressive Than Any Heavy Weights Lifted in the Gym

Many people are impressed with men and women who are exceptionally strong. If I go into your gym and have everyone lift up their shirt, I am betting that less than 5% have six pack abs (maybe less than that). If I take the same people and have them do a one rep max on the bench press, I am certain that over 20% can bench over 225 pounds. The funny thing is that getting 6 pack abs takes less time than getting strong enough to bench 225 pounds. If you have worked out for any period of time and don't have washboard abs, you are simply spending your time in the gym doing the wrong things.

A Sexy Looking Body Starts With a Great Set Of Abs

Want to be guaranteed that your entire body will be defined? Then focus on getting six pack abs. Seriously, if you get to the point where you have a defined midsection then your entire body will look great. Have you ever seen a woman with a defined midsection with flabby arms. It won't happen! Your abdominal region is kind of the barometer of how fit you are.

A Washboard Stomach is 80-90% About Diet and Cardio

You don't get great abs from crunches and sit ups. I haven't done any type of crunching movement in over 5 years and my abs look phenomenal. Ab exercises certainly will help your abs look a tiny bit better, but focus your time on the thing that gives you the best results. I would say 90% of great abs is from diet and cardio. I wouldn't even bother doing crunches if your body fat is high, spend that extra 15 minutes and add that to your cardio workout.

Direct Ab Exercises Only Account for Less Than One Tenth of Your Results

I don't think you need to directly target the abs to get a great mid section, but if you want pick one and hit it for 4-5 sets. The majority of your time should be spent on a bit of lifting for the rest of your body and intense cardio. As far as choices of cardio go, running on a treadmill or running outside is the way to go. Your abs work harder with running, because there is a certain amount of balancing involves between your legs and upper body. If you are on an exercise bike, your abs don't have to work at all. Your body is being stabilized by the seat.

Summary: Most people just need to increase the amount of calories burned through cardio and decrease the amount of food consumed. I know this solution seems way too simple, but it is the truth!