Body Sculpting Without a Knife: Abs

by Christina Ranon — July 21, 2008

No matter how much abdominal work you do, you won't be able to see much of anything unless you are at a low enough body fat percentage for your abs to show through any layer of belly fat you may have. I occasionally joke about my "ab," but it's more like a mini two-pack. Some muscle definition, but nowhere approximating the coveted abs six-pack. Aside from the possibility of the six-pack, doing abdominal exercises is important for your entire body, since it is part of your core, the area around your trunk and pelvis where your center of gravity is located. Ab exercises enhance your strength and endurance and increase the stabilization of your core.

Try the abdominal crunch to help tone your abs. Intersperse pulses with single crunches in the set by pausing halfway down to the mat and pulsing for about 8 counts before returning to singles. Do crunches on a stability ball to recruit more core muscles. Crunch to the left and the right in order to use your oblique muscles, located around your ribcage and your sides.

The plank works out your abs, back, arms, and legs. Work your way up to holding the pose for longer amounts of time, and incorporate the side plank into your workout as well.

Do leg lifts with a stability or ballast ball. Lay flat, holding the ball between your feet and bracing your knees so that the movement hinges from your hips and your abs do the work. Lift the ball up so that your legs are nearly perpendicular to your trunk, then lower the ball to tap it on the ground. This is one repetition.