The keys to successful weight loss in the abdominal area are diet and exercise. Developing an impressive set of Six Pack Abs requires that you eat foods that help you burn belly fat, not build it, and focus on exercises that tone the muscles in the abdominal area. There are hundreds of exercises you can do to work your abdominal muscles, but I’m only going to cover the most effective fat burning exercises that are simple and can be done at home without having to visit your local gym. Here is a list of the best belly toning exercises that you can do at home.
V-SUCTS – are simple and very effective for toning the abdominal muscles. Begin by lying on your back with your arms extended above your head. Raise your torso and legs at the same time, forming a V with your body. Make sure to keep your legs and arms straight when performing this exercise. Perform this exercise at a slow and steady pace. If you want to add a measure of difficulty to this exercise, try holding a weight between your feet.
ABS – it’s the old standard sit-ups we’ve been doing since we were kids. Lie on your back with your feet flat and your knees bent. Interlace your fingers and place the palms of your hands behind your head. The palms of the hands should touch the ears. Or, another version is to cross your arms over your chest. They both work fine. Slowly raise your back off the ground and bring your elbows to your knees if you have your hands behind your head, or pull your chin toward your knees if you have your arms crossed over your chest. You can increase the difficulty of this exercise by using weights again, performing it on an incline, or lifting your feet off the ground as you perform the movement. The modified sit-up can be difficult for some people, but it’s a great exercise for developing a good set of ripped abs.
LEG RAISES – Begin this exercise on your back with your legs straight and your hands at your sides. He raises both legs keeping the ankles touching throughout the movement. Make sure not to bend your knees while doing this exercise and continue to raise your legs until they are at a ninety-degree angle or as close to it as possible. Lower your legs as slowly as possible and stop close to the floor without touching it. Repeat this movement several times and your stomach muscles will burn. You can increase the challenge of this exercise by adding weights to your legs as you raise them.
CRUNCHY – are similar to sit-ups but with less movement. Lying on the floor, cross your arms over your chest or place your hands behind your head. My people like to put their hands behind their heads, but for me personally, that tends to put more pressure on my lower back and cause pain. Try both methods and use the one that is most comfortable for you. Be sure not to pull on your head if you put your hands on or behind your head. This could hurt your neck. Pull your abdomen in toward your spine and lift your shoulders an inch or two off the floor using only your abdominal muscles. Don’t lift your entire back off the ground, just your shoulders. This could cause strain or injury. Just do short, repetitive lifts by lifting your shoulders a couple of inches off the ground. The key to making this exercise worthwhile is the continual flexing of your abdominal muscles as you lift your shoulders off the ground. As your shoulders leave the ground, exhale through your mouth. Lower your shoulders to the point where your shoulders touch the ground as you inhale.
These four exercises, along with a sensible diet, will have a dramatic impact on your efforts to develop those six pack abs. Be consistent and your efforts will pay off in a big way.
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