Having a flat stomach and a set of six-pack abs is not just for looks anymore. There are benefits such as feeling better and being healthier that goes along with a trim tummy. While you must exercise in order to achieve these dream abs there is also the factor of eating right and losing excess body fat to achieve this goal. The layer of fat above the stomach has to be reduced to allow the abdominal muscles to show clearly.
All of the lower ab exercises in the world will not make any difference without a proper diet and loss of excess body fat. The success of achieving a set of six pack abs is up to eighty percent dependant upon a proper diet.
With lower ab exercises there must be a balance achieved between building these muscles and straining these muscles. This balance is hard for many to achieve.
Leg lifts are a popular form of lower ab exercises that are often done incorrectly. When beginning to do leg lifts you should be completely flat. The legs should be together and lifted to an angle of forty-five degrees. Once at this forty-five degree angle you should hold the legs at this angle for a count of twenty. Lower the legs, rest for ten seconds and pull them up again for another count, only this time just count to fifteen. One more time take a rest and bring them back up and count to ten or until you cannot keep them at the forty-five degree angle any longer.
A variation on the leg lift is the vertical leg lift. While you will still remain flat on your back, the legs are lifted until your toes are pointed to the ceiling. Place your hand, palms down under your butt to hold your balance. Now for the hard part, using the lower abdominal muscles lift, rollup onto your arms and upper back by lifting your pelvis and extending your toes as far as you can towards the ceiling while keeping your legs straight. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat.
Leg lifts are beneficial in the loss of fat as well. Short sets with the legs being held for a shorter period help to achieve this goal.
If you do not care for sit ups as long as you are over thirty you have nothing to worry to about, it is suggested that you no longer perform these exercises. Gravity related exercises will have a better effect for you. Instead it is far better to perform exercises related to gravity.
There are machines available to hold you in an upright position and keep the feet from touching the ground. While you are in this position bring the legs to the chest, hold then release. The back should be kept straight during this to avoid placing strain on the hips and lower portion of the back.
Should any pain occur in the back you should stop the lower ab exercises as this is an indicator of damage occurring to the back itself. Different lower ab exercises will work differently for different people.
Regardless of the amount of lower ab exercises that are done they will be ineffective without the loss of additional body fat.
Once you get a handle on your diet and your cardio routine, it is time to concentrate on your regular exercises. Here are some lower ab exercises that will help tone your lower midsection. We will start with the oblique crunches; lie down on your back with your knees bent and hands clasped behind your head. Keep your lower back against the floor, slowly raise your upper body, do not go up all the way, lift until you feel your muscles contact alternate the right elbow to the left side and the left elbow to the right side. You can do one side first or you can alternate between sides. Do not pull on your neck. Do as many of these as you can and increase by 5 every day until you can build up your stamina.
A different lower ab exercise to try is called leg flutters. To perform, lie on your stomach and lift your head slightly, and keep your arms at your sides or bend them to have them resting beside you. Then lift you feet and knees off the ground and flutter your legs like you are swimming. Do this for twenty seconds, break for twenty seconds, and repeat. Do as many reps as you can.
Another great lower ab exercise is twist crunches. To perform, lie on your back and place your arms behind your head and clasp your fingers. Raise your left knee and connect with you right elbow and then do the same on the other side, left elbow to the right knee. This will work your lower abs and obliques. Do twenty-five on each side total and increase the reps as you are able to.
This next lower ab exercise will work the lower abs and obliques, which is where your love handles are. This exercise is called the standing trunk twist. To perform, stand with your feet apart and twist your body. Keep your waist and legs in place make punching motions to the left and right. When you twist to the right, your left arm should be the punching arm and vice versa. The reps are 100 total so it equals out to fifty per each side.
Other great lower ab exercises are standard crunches. Do reps of about 25 to begin and work your way up. Doing these exercises properly plus keeping up your cardio will help you lose weight. Keep in conjunction with the diet of eating every three or four hours will definitely help you see a difference in no time. You will be so excited by the results that you will want to stick with these lower ab exercises on a daily basis.
Both Malcolm Blake & Roberto Bell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Malcolm Blake has sinced written about articles on various topics from Nutrition, Health and Nutrition. Malcolm Blake has researched and written about weight loss and how to lose stomach fat. To see more of his writing, visit his article about .. Malcolm Blake's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
Roberto Bell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food and Drink, Health and Colon Cleanse. Do you want more lower ab exercises and workouts? Visit this link to find more .. Roberto Bell's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.