Bye-bye muffin top
When most people think "abs," they think the muffin top that blooms over the top of too-tight pants. But abdominals, a set collectively known as the core, includes the many interconnected muscles that run up the back and stretch down to the butt and the front and inner thighs, says Michele Olson, PhD, professor of physical education and exercise science at Auburn University–Montgomery, Alabama.
Here are 24 moves, from simple to killer, that will keep your daily core workouts interesting!
Get more from your core
You'll get more from your Pilates, yoga, or core-focused moves—meaning a slimmer, flatter belly—by following these tips:
•Move from your waist. Whenever you twist, make sure the movement happens from your bottom rib up. Keep hips still.
•Tighten up. Throughout each move, you should feel a tightening, similar to zipping up a pair of tight jeans, from one hip bone to the other.
•Exhale deeply. To help strengthen your abs and protect your lower back, be sure to exhale thoroughly with every breath.
A new kind of crunch
Try this two-in-one abs-and-obliques move from David Barton Gym owner David Barton. Here's how: Sit so thighs and upper torso form a V shape, with lower legs crossed and lifted.
Hold a 5-pound medicine ball (or dumbbell) between both hands. Swivel left to right and back, bringing ball across body while maintaining the V shape.
Do 3 sets of 15 reps 3–4 times a week.
Bridge opposite arm-leg reach
Take inches off your waistline with this do-anywhere move from fitness expert and teacher Jessica Smith.
1. Lie faceup with your left knee bent, left foot flat on the floor, and right leg extended toward the ceiling. Reach toward the ceiling with your the left arm and keep your right arm down by your side.
2. Without moving your hips or shoulders, open your raised leg to the right and raised arm to the left. Now, concentrating on your abs, return your raised leg and arm to the center. Do 10–12 reps, then switch sides and repeat.
Low-belly leg reach
Targets corset and six-pack. Lie faceup with knees bent to 90 degrees, hands behind head, and abs contracted. Keeping knees stacked over hips, lift shoulders and crunch up; inhale and hold for 3-5 seconds.
Exhale and extend legs to 45 degrees; hold for 3-5 seconds while squeezing lower belly. Do 2 sets of 10-15 reps.
Teaser
An advanced Pilates-inspired move. Lie on your back with knees bent to 90-degree angles and feet lifted. Tighten abs as you inhale, and lift arms up and back over head.
Exhale and swing arms forward, straightening legs so your body forms a V. If needed, put hands on the floor for support.
Roll down slowly, bending knees and bringing arms overhead. Do 15 reps.
Donkey kickbacks
A killer move that will torch calories as it works your core. Kneel on all fours, toes tucked under, keeping your back neutral. Draw your belly in toward your spine as you contract your abs and lift both knees about 2 inches off the ground.
Keeping abs engaged, bring right knee to nose (shown). Then kick right leg straight out behind you, squeezing your butt (shown); keep lower abs contracted and hips facing the ground to protect your back.
Repeat 8 times; switch legs and repeat.
Advanced leg crunches
A get-ready-for-swimsuit season move from celebrity trainer Eduardo Dias.
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and a 3-pound dumbbell between your feet. Place your hands, palms down, beneath your sitting bones.
2. Concentrating on your lower abs, use them to bring your knees in toward your chest while lifting your hips, head, and shoulders slightly. Return to the starting position; that’s 1 rep.
Do 15–30 reps 3–4 times a week; you should see results in 4 weeks.
Ana Caban's belly blaster
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent in toward your chest. Hold 1 (3-pound) dumbbell with both hands.
2. Extend your left leg to 45 degrees, keeping your right knee bent. Lift your head and shoulders and move the dumbbell to the outside of your right knee, pressing into a crunch with a twist (shown above).
3. Pull your left leg in to meet your right leg and reach the weight up toward the ceiling, keeping your shoulders and head elevated off the floor. Now repeat step 2, but this time extend your right leg and keep your left knee bent. That’s 1 rep.
Do 8 reps 4 times per week, and you should see results in 3 weeks
Oblique driving-knee crunch
Lie on your back on a stability ball with your feet hip-distance apart on the floor and knees bent to 90 degrees. Place your right hand behind your head and your left fingertips on the floor for balance. Brace your core and lift your left foot off the floor. Extend your left leg, foot flexed.
B. (inset, lower left) Crunch up, twisting your right shoulder and rib cage toward your left knee while simultaneously stretching your right leg straight (keep your foot on the floor). Return to starting position (left leg lifted and right leg bent); that's 1 rep.
Do 15 reps, then switch sides and repeat.
Scale Pose
Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position with hands on a mat next to your hips. Tighten your pelvic floor (as if you have to pee and are holding it in), push into your hands, and lift your entire lower body off the mat.
Hold for 3 breaths, then lower back down. This is a pretty challenging move, so if you can’t lift your whole lower half, keep your feet on the floor and just lift your butt. Do 3 reps.
for more: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20664616_11,00.html
When most people think "abs," they think the muffin top that blooms over the top of too-tight pants. But abdominals, a set collectively known as the core, includes the many interconnected muscles that run up the back and stretch down to the butt and the front and inner thighs, says Michele Olson, PhD, professor of physical education and exercise science at Auburn University–Montgomery, Alabama.
Here are 24 moves, from simple to killer, that will keep your daily core workouts interesting!
Get more from your core
You'll get more from your Pilates, yoga, or core-focused moves—meaning a slimmer, flatter belly—by following these tips:
•Move from your waist. Whenever you twist, make sure the movement happens from your bottom rib up. Keep hips still.
•Tighten up. Throughout each move, you should feel a tightening, similar to zipping up a pair of tight jeans, from one hip bone to the other.
•Exhale deeply. To help strengthen your abs and protect your lower back, be sure to exhale thoroughly with every breath.
A new kind of crunch
Try this two-in-one abs-and-obliques move from David Barton Gym owner David Barton. Here's how: Sit so thighs and upper torso form a V shape, with lower legs crossed and lifted.
Hold a 5-pound medicine ball (or dumbbell) between both hands. Swivel left to right and back, bringing ball across body while maintaining the V shape.
Do 3 sets of 15 reps 3–4 times a week.
Bridge opposite arm-leg reach
Take inches off your waistline with this do-anywhere move from fitness expert and teacher Jessica Smith.
1. Lie faceup with your left knee bent, left foot flat on the floor, and right leg extended toward the ceiling. Reach toward the ceiling with your the left arm and keep your right arm down by your side.
2. Without moving your hips or shoulders, open your raised leg to the right and raised arm to the left. Now, concentrating on your abs, return your raised leg and arm to the center. Do 10–12 reps, then switch sides and repeat.
Low-belly leg reach
Targets corset and six-pack. Lie faceup with knees bent to 90 degrees, hands behind head, and abs contracted. Keeping knees stacked over hips, lift shoulders and crunch up; inhale and hold for 3-5 seconds.
Exhale and extend legs to 45 degrees; hold for 3-5 seconds while squeezing lower belly. Do 2 sets of 10-15 reps.
Teaser
An advanced Pilates-inspired move. Lie on your back with knees bent to 90-degree angles and feet lifted. Tighten abs as you inhale, and lift arms up and back over head.
Exhale and swing arms forward, straightening legs so your body forms a V. If needed, put hands on the floor for support.
Roll down slowly, bending knees and bringing arms overhead. Do 15 reps.
Donkey kickbacks
A killer move that will torch calories as it works your core. Kneel on all fours, toes tucked under, keeping your back neutral. Draw your belly in toward your spine as you contract your abs and lift both knees about 2 inches off the ground.
Keeping abs engaged, bring right knee to nose (shown). Then kick right leg straight out behind you, squeezing your butt (shown); keep lower abs contracted and hips facing the ground to protect your back.
Repeat 8 times; switch legs and repeat.
Advanced leg crunches
A get-ready-for-swimsuit season move from celebrity trainer Eduardo Dias.
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and a 3-pound dumbbell between your feet. Place your hands, palms down, beneath your sitting bones.
2. Concentrating on your lower abs, use them to bring your knees in toward your chest while lifting your hips, head, and shoulders slightly. Return to the starting position; that’s 1 rep.
Do 15–30 reps 3–4 times a week; you should see results in 4 weeks.
Ana Caban's belly blaster
1. Lie on your back with your knees bent in toward your chest. Hold 1 (3-pound) dumbbell with both hands.
2. Extend your left leg to 45 degrees, keeping your right knee bent. Lift your head and shoulders and move the dumbbell to the outside of your right knee, pressing into a crunch with a twist (shown above).
3. Pull your left leg in to meet your right leg and reach the weight up toward the ceiling, keeping your shoulders and head elevated off the floor. Now repeat step 2, but this time extend your right leg and keep your left knee bent. That’s 1 rep.
Do 8 reps 4 times per week, and you should see results in 3 weeks
Oblique driving-knee crunch
Lie on your back on a stability ball with your feet hip-distance apart on the floor and knees bent to 90 degrees. Place your right hand behind your head and your left fingertips on the floor for balance. Brace your core and lift your left foot off the floor. Extend your left leg, foot flexed.
B. (inset, lower left) Crunch up, twisting your right shoulder and rib cage toward your left knee while simultaneously stretching your right leg straight (keep your foot on the floor). Return to starting position (left leg lifted and right leg bent); that's 1 rep.
Do 15 reps, then switch sides and repeat.
Scale Pose
Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position with hands on a mat next to your hips. Tighten your pelvic floor (as if you have to pee and are holding it in), push into your hands, and lift your entire lower body off the mat.
Hold for 3 breaths, then lower back down. This is a pretty challenging move, so if you can’t lift your whole lower half, keep your feet on the floor and just lift your butt. Do 3 reps.
for more: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20664616_11,00.html
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