Get In Better Shape With These Flat Tummy Exercises   by Sandy Rutherforde

in Health / Fitness    (submitted 2011-12-14)

If you would like to undertake some flat tummy exercises but are not sure which of them work best, maybe this will help you. Before you get started exercising, you must remember that a solid core is important for keeping your whole body healthy and also your spine protected. The physical exercises that can help you the best for your stomach area are abdominal exercises.

Among the most effective flat tummy exercises is performing the bicycle. It focuses on your six pack region and your waist. First, lie face up on the floor and put both hands behind your head. Then draw your knees into your chest and then lift your shoulders off of the floor without using your neck. Then rotate to the left and bring your right elbow towards your left knee as you straighten up your right knee. Switch your sides, moving your left elbow to your right knee. Do this for 1 to 3 sets of 12 to 16 reps.

Yet another activity that works the six pack region and waist is the captain's chair leg raise. With this one, the crucial element is in being sure that you are not swinging your legs or employing momentum to bring your legs up. You'll need to have a captain's chair rack to perform this exercise. The first thing that you do is stand on the chair and grip the handholds in order to support your upper body. Then, press your back on the pad and then contract your ab muscles to lift your legs and raise your knees up towards your chest. Then gradually lower your legs down and do it once more for one to three sets of 12 to 16 reps.

An exercise ball is yet another excellent workout to strengthen the abdominals. For this one you are going to first lie on the ball with the lower back getting supported by it. Second, cross your arms above your chest. Contract your ab muscles so you can raise your torso off of the ball and pull the bottom of your rib cage down in the direction of your hips. Following that, curl up while keeping the ball stable. Finally, lower back down and do it again for 1 to 3 sets of 12 to 16 reps.

One more exercise which will help you with your abdominal area is the vertical leg crunch. To start with, lay on the floor and stretch your legs straight up with your knees crossed. Then position your hands underneath your head. Contract your ab muscles to raise your shoulders off of the ground and don't move your legs. Try to bring your tummy towards your spine at the top part of the movement. Finally, lower and repeat.

So if you wish to do flat tummy exercises to tighten up your abs, it's possible the above mentioned exercises will work for you.

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