Honestly, what is the BEST total ab workout?

[Coreyatdel]

I see all of these workouts that focus on just the midsection of your somach. What about the sides, lower and upper part? Just wondering if anyone would know a "total" ab workout, thanks.

[CF-OC_gal]

Good question, but I offer this. Why focus on you mid-section when you'll benefit more from working your whole body!

[Coreyatdel]

your right, BUT, i just dont want to leave that workout out.

[Lift2Live]

As long as you work the abs with the normal exercises, there's no need to try and fiddle with some weird ab routine. The abs get a ton of work stabalizing the body in all of your other work (assuming you do other body parts). Just do crunches (can add weight), decline situps/crunches (weighted or not), cable crunches and some oblique twists (slightly weighed) and you will be fine.

[sooner_ed]

There's no such thing as a "BEST" total ab workout. It's all in how you work them with the rest of your body. Examples of some exercises that will target that area are:

1. Flat Knee-In
2. Bent Leg Partial Sit-Up
3. Incline Knee-In
4. Hanging Knee-up
5. Swiss-Ball Jackknife
6. Swiss-Ball Crunch
7. Medicine-Ball Woodchop
8. Plank

Movements that emphasize your core are the most effective ab exercises you can do. Core exercises put your body in unstable positions so that, in fighting just to keep your balance, you train nearly all the muscles of your abs and lower back.

[goodgirl]

THE PLANK...that hurts just thinkin' about it!

[candyass]

Im partial to bent-knee raises (i have no clue if they are really called that but who cares). Grab a dumb bell in both hands, bent your knees slightly and spread your legs as if you were doing a squat. Then without bending your legs any futher, and keeping your arms straight out, swing the dumb bell between your legs, then bring it up to shoulder level.

Oh, and the hanging knee-up doesnt really work the abbs. The abbs merely work as a stablizer in that situation.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by candyass

the hanging knee-up doesnt really work the abbs. The abbs merely work as a stablizer in that situation.

That's the whole point.

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

Movements that emphasize your core are the most effective ab exercises you can do. Core exercises put your body in unstable positions so that, in fighting just to keep your balance, you train nearly all the muscles of your abs and lower back.

[candyass]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

That's the whole point.

Hate to break it to you, but what you're really working on when you do those is your hips.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by candyass

Hate to break it to you, but what you're really working on when you do those is your hips.

We'll agree to disagree on this one. This exercise develops the lower abdominals and because it stretches the lower back, it's a good exercise to do in cases of minor soreness in this area. You'll also feel this exercise in the stomach, upper thighs, and lower back.

[Firehawk]

another good one is plate curls. Lay on a decline bench, lock your feet, and put 2 45's on your chest and hold them. Do a U shape movement, and rotate your upper body. So if you were on the left side, you would rotate away from the bench as if looking to the left, same thing on the right direction.

For awhile I have been doing good old fashioned military sit-ups daily, between 50 to 200 reps, instead of all the other ab stuff I used to do. I think these are the "Real McCoy". I've also performed what are called Atlas full-range sit-ups and have discovered that these are good too. Of course a strict diet does wonders for being able to see the benefit of your ab work.

[NBS 4life]

What the hell is "The Plank" and how do you do it?

[Cort]

http://www.rentaldecorating.com/imag...cs/0103abs.jpg

[Coreyatdel]

What are the motions of that workout?