Most Effective Ab Exercises and
Stomach Flattening Exercises
If you're looking for some of the most effective ab exercises, try these plank exercise variations.
Although ab exercises help a little to flatten the stomach, walking, jogging, and running are the best stomach flattening exercises.
In addition to ab exercises and aerobic exercise, a good diet plan with also help you to flatten your stomach. So take a comprehensive approach to fitness to flatten your stomach.
Here are some good ab exercises for your workout routine.
Ab Exercise #1:
Moving Side Plank from the Elbow
Starting Position: Begin in the side plank position, with your elbow directly underneath your shoulder. Stack you feet on top of each other for a great stability challenge or place one foot in front of the other to steady your body.
Form: Keep you shoulder stable and simply lower your hip towards the floor. Move until you feel a slight stretch in your side which is closest to the floor.
Hold for a brief second and then lift your body back to the starting position.
Personal Trainer Tips: You can vary the position of your feet or your top arm to change your base of support. With a smaller base of support, your core muscles must work a little harder to maintain your balance.
Perform 8-15 repetitions on each side.
Ab Exercise #2:
Moving Side Planks from the Hand
Starting Position: Begin in the side plank position, with your hand directly underneath your shoulder. Stack you feet on top of each other for a great stability challenge or place one foot in front of the other to steady your body.
Form: Keep you shoulder stable and simply lower your hip towards the floor. Move until you feel a slight stretch in your side which is closest to the floor.
Hold for a brief second and then lift your body back to the starting position.
Personal Trainer Tips: You can vary the position of your feet or your top arm to change your base of support. With a smaller base of support, your core muscles must work a little harder to maintain your balance.
Perform 8-15 repetitions on each side.
Ab Exercise #3:
1 Leg Plank on the Floor
Starting Position: Begin by balancing on your elbows and your toes in the regular full plank position. Keep your elbows underneath your shoulders and your feet hip width apart.
Form: While maintaining the position of your lower back, slightly lift 1 leg off the floor. Pull your belly button towards your spine and squeeze your butt muscles (glutes) while keeping your body in alignment. Hold for 10-30 seconds on each leg.
Personal Trainer Tips: This is an advanced ab exercise. When you balance on one leg, all of the muscles in your body on that side work much harder to stabilize your core.
There is no need to lift your leg as high as it can go. Simply lift enough to activate your glutes, and maintain control of your pelvis.
This is a great core stabilization exercise.
These are all effective ab exercises, and you will really feel a different type of muscle work compared to regular crunches or other floor ab exercises.
For an even better perspective on what makes good ab exercises read my review of a scientific study on muscle activation to determine effective ab exercises.
Or read my page on Finding the Best Abdominal Exercise for your Workouts.
To Learn More Effective Ab Exercises visit the Directory of Abdominal Exercises
Yours in Health,
Dr. Charles PT/PT
All About Abs
P.S. Check out my Core Workout Video!
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