Top 5 Ab Exercises
For The Best Ab Workout


By Lee Hayward


Decline Bench Sit Ups

decline bench sit ups

incline sit ups

This exercise works the entire frontal abdominal wall.

Sit on an decline bench and place your feet under the foot pads to restrain your legs. Either cross your arms over your chest, or place them behind your head to support your neck.

Sit up and squeeze your abs at the top. Hold this position for a second. Then slowly lower your torso back up to the starting position.

Tip - If you want to add resistance to the exercise you can hold a weight plate to your chest.




Leg Raises

Leg Raise Station

stright leg raise

This exercise works the frontal abdominal wall, particularly the lower half of the abdominals.

Position yourself on the leg raise station. Support your bodyweight on your forearms. Keep your torso upright. Raise your legs in a semicircular arc until your legs are parallel to the floor. Then slowly lower back to the starting position.

Tip - a less intense version of this exercise is to keep your knees bent at a 90-degree angle during the exercise.




Pull Down Cable Crunches

Pull Down Abs High Pulley Cable Crunches

This is a good all around abdominal exercise. It places intense stress on the rectus abdominis, intercostals, and serratus muscles.

Attach a handle to a lat pull down machine. Facing away from the weight stack. Grab the handle with an underhand curl grip and brace the back of your legs against the knee pad.

Bend forward at the waist and crunch your abdominal muscles. Breath out as you contract your abs. Hold this position for a couple of seconds to maximize the peak contraction in the abs. Then return back to the starting position.




Frog Kicks (aka Seated Knee Up)

frog kicks v-ups

leg raises knee ups

This exercise works the frontal abdominals, especially the lower half of the abdominal muscles.

Sit on the floor or a flat bench with your legs out straight. Place your hands palms down behind you. Lean back slightly and use your abdominal strength to lift your legs.

Simultaneously bend your legs and bring your knees as close to your chest as possible. Slowly straighten out your legs and return to the starting position. Repeat. Do not let your feet touch the floor during the exercise, keep the tension on the abdominal muscles.




Crunches

abdominal crunches

crunches on the mat

This basic abdominal exercise isolates the upper half of the fontal abdominal wall.

Lie on your back on the floor. Your feet should be flat on the floor shoulder width apart with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Place your hands behind your head for support.

Without pulling on your neck, slowly lift your shoulders off the floor using your abdominal strength. Breath out as you contract your abs. Hold this position for a couple of seconds to maximize the peak contraction in the abs. Then slowly lower yourself to the starting position.




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