8 More Exercises to Tone Abdominal Muscle

Once you have effectively set your weight loss regime, you must determine a set of exercises to strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles. This will provide them with the body and shape required to form a visible six pack. The following exercises are appropriate exercises to select from.

1) Side stretches: Lie on your side, resting your weight on your forearm. Now raise your body off the floor, supporting yourself with your elbow and foot, to form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankle. Hold for a second before lowering yourself and performing the process on your other side.

2) Lunge Chop: Take hold of a medicine ball and hold it in both hands over one of your shoulders. Step forward with the leg opposite to the shoulder you are holding the ball over, until your front knee is at a ninety degree angle. Keeping your torso upright, swing the ball down in a chopping motion. Repeat the chopping motion eight times, then return to the standing position and switch the ball over to your other shoulder.

3) Barbell Rollout: Kneeling on the floor, grab a barbell in an overhand grip. Your hands should be approximately shoulder width apart, with your shoulder over the barbell. Roll the bar as far forward as you can, keeping your back flat. Once you have pushed it as far as possible, contract your abs and rolls the bar back into its initial position. Repeat this ten times to complete one set.

4) Plank: Facing the ground, rest yourself on your forearms keeping your back straight. Now, contract your abs and hold for twenty seconds then release. Repeat this four to five times.

5) The bicycle exercise: Lie on your back with your hand behind your head. Lift your shoulders off the ground whilst bringing your knees up towards your chest. Straighten one leg to a forty-five degree angle whilst turning your upper body towards the opposite side, bringing the elbow towards the knee. Now do this for the other side and repeat twelve to sixteen times.

6) The chair exercise: Stand on a chair and grip the arm rests. Press your back against the rear of the chair, tensing your abdominal muscles in order to raise your legs, lifting your knees towards your chest and keeping your back straight. Repeat this twelve to sixteen times.

7) Working with an exercise ball: Lie facing the ceiling with an exercise ball under the middle of your back, your arms should be crossed over your chest or held behind your head. Now, tighten your abdominal muscles to lift your torso off the ball and pull down towards your hips. Lower back down and repeat this twelve to sixteen times.

8) Vertical Leg Crunch: Lie flat on the floor, facing the ceiling. Extend your legs above you and cross them. Tighten your abs and lift your shoulders off the floor, keeping your legs in the same position. Lower yourself and repeat this twelve to sixteen times.

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