Want those abs but don’t know how to get them? Here are 5 Abs Exercises you need in your workout routine!

The most common reasons people do abs exercises is to get that 6 pack. However, there are a lot of underlying reasons why abs exercises are excellent for your body in general. The first thing you need to know is that ab exercises target your core muscles so by getting a strong core, you are transferring more power to your legs which makes for a very effective workout. Secondly, a strong core helps in improving your overall balance. A development of your core muscles through ab exercises will make your workouts better and get you into shape. So if you’ve been ignoring those crucial ab reps, it’s time to reconsider. Try these out in your daily routine and see if it doesn’t make a difference to your overall workout!

1. WALK THE PLANK

That’s pirate lingo for getting off the deck and being forced to jump in the sea. A plank is sort of like that. It works your core like no other and after one set you definitely want to stop and never do it again. But if you want to build up your core to get those abs, you have to do planks.

So, you have to lie down on the mat and rest your forearms on it. You then have to raise your entire body with only the forearms touching the mat. Your body has to be in a straight line and you have to consciously focus on your core and soon you will begin feeling some tension there. If you are new to planks, hold the position for 8-10 seconds. If you have more experience, go for a whole minute. It might feel like the longest sixty seconds of your life, but it’s worth it.

2. SIT-UPS OVER SITTING DOWN

Sit-ups are important to build the muscle called the rectus abdominis. That’s the target muscle which, if you’re following the correct diet and during the required abs exercises, results in those envied six pack abs. To do this exercise, you need to lie down on the floor, facing the ceiling. Plant your knees on the mat and push your body towards your knees. You can put your hands behind your head or in front of you, whichever is easier. Each set should have 10-15 reps.

3. CUSTOMIZE YOUR CRUNCHES

Now, it’s true that crunches don’t actually help you lose any belly fat. But that doesn’t mean you should exclude it altogether. It’s important to exercise your core, to tone it and shape it so that it becomes stronger. Consider it one of the steps to attain that envious six pack. A crunch is basically half of a sit up. Whereas in situps you lift your entire body off the floor, in crunches you do just half that movement.

4. RALLY WITH RUSSIAN TWIST

The Russian Twist is an arguably ignored exercise because it doesn’t have any obvious results for your six-pack. However, it targets the rectus abdominis as well as the obliques to give you a stronger core and causes overall strengthening. To do this, lie down on the mat and bend your knees. You need to lift your upper body in such a manner that it forms a V-shape with your thighs. You have to hold your arms out in front of you so that they are not getting any support and move your torso from side to side.

5.ROLL IT OUT WITH THE SWISS

The exercise is called the swiss ball roll out. It’s an excellent exercise for strengthening those core muscles and also working your shoulder muscles. You need a Swiss Ball for this one. Place your knees apart on the mat and put your arms on the Swiss Ball. You have to focus on your abdomen and the roll the ball as far away as possible from your body and then bring it back in.

You can start off with the basic version of these abs exercises till you have mastered them. After that, you can then move on to the harder variations which will test your core and ultimately strengthen it. However, remember that if you don’t follow a proper diet, no matter how many ab exercises you do, that six-pack will always remain outside your reach. So, try starting off with these Healthy Breakfast Options to make the first change to your diet!

Here are some home workout plan to improve fitness.