The No-Crunch Guide to Getting Your Abs Toned Up

 

Are you one of those people who religiously pump out 100 abdominal crunches each night or morning without getting anywhere? Have you tried those insane crunch-heavy ab exercise videos only to feel sore, but not toned? Did your crunch regimen used to do your body wonders, but now feel that you’ve hit a plateau and aren’t able to reach your ab goals?

 

Well, you’re definitely not alone. Many people don’t feel that crunches are helping them get the results that they’re looking for in terms of toning up and shrinking in. Others are just plain bored of their normal ab routines and are looking for a way to shake up their workouts a bit. And according to Liz Neporent of iVillage.com, researchers at the Biomechanics Lab at San Diego State University found that crunches finished somewhere near the bottom on the list of useful ab exercises.

 

So let’s try something different, shall we? Fitness gurus across the nation agree that crunches aren’t the only way to reach your ab goals. Why not try one or more of these exercises during your next workout?

 

No matter what exercise you choose, there are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to get the most out of your ab workout. 

 

For more exercise ideas on how to work out your abs without doing any crunches, check out these beginner routines courtesy iVillage.com (http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/diet-fitness/the-no-crunch-ab-workout.html&pageNum=4&ampcpsextcurrchannel=1)

 

This exercise promotes good posture and is an excellent spinal and middle muscle warm-up.

 

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor a comfortable distance in front of you.

Wrap your arms around the uppermost part of your shins with your hands clasped together or clasping your legs.

Inhale deeply and sit up as tall as you possibly can with your belly button pulled in toward your spine.

Concentrate on keeping your shoulders down and relaxed.

Hold for 10 slow counts and release for a moment before moving into the next rep.

 

This exercise uses your abdominals and lower back muscles, and promotes balance, strength and good posture.

 

Sit up tall on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor a comfortable distance in front of you.

Cross your arms and place your hands on your chest. Pull you your bellybutton in toward your spine.

Keeping your back straight and your posture lifted up tall, lean back about six inches. Don't allow your feet to come up off the floor or your upper body to round inward.

Hold this position for 10 slow counts and sit up again before moving into the next rep.

 

Although this exercise is powered by the lower muscles, it is an excellent total ab exercise.

 

Lie on your back and lift your legs toward the ceiling so they are perpendicular to your hips.

Bend your legs slightly at your knees.

Place your hands at your sides, keeping your head, neck and shoulders relaxed and down.

Pull your belly button in toward your spine as you lift your buttocks a half-inch straight up off the floor.

Don't allow your hips to roll back or your knees to move toward your chest as you lift. Hold a moment before slowly lowering to the floor.

 

With these fun and effective ab exercises, you can kiss those torturous crunches goodbye. Do you have a good way of working out your abs? Please share your tips with us!