Strengthen Your Abs

To strengthen your abs, you may have to trade crunches for pilates. To firm up the external obliques, you can try the pilates ‘100s’. According to a recent study, the pilates were found to challenge more muscles in one shot than the traditional crunches. This type of exercise was found to be effective on particularly the muscles that span the waist. To do the pilates 100s, sit on a mat and make a V with your body; your buttocks should form the bottom of the V.

While in this position, reach your hands past your knees, the arms should be parallel to the floor. Raise your arms up and down 100 times. Inhale and exhale after every five counts. Women can strengthen their abs by working out with a stability ball beneath their glutes and lower backs. Using a stability ball works your abdominal and back muscles. These muscles are important in making you stand tall and look slender.

Cardiovascular exercises are important. Thirty minutes of cardio exercises can get you further than thirty minutes of crunches. You need to burn off the fat layer that is hiding your abdominal muscles. To develop strong abdominal muscles, you will need to do cardiovascular exercises such as running, cycling or jogging. It is recommended that you do your cardio in the morning before your first meal.

When you lie on your back with the knees bent, you should be able to get your fingers under the hollow of your lower back. When you maintain your back’s normal curve, you work and strengthen your abs without straining the spine.

By: Mercy Maranga

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Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on how to get flat abs and how to keep your body in good shape Flat Abs