FitSugar

Ab Exercise Must Do: Easy Knee-Tuck Crunches

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:06:52 PST

Traditional crunches are out! Why waste your time spot toning when you can work your abs in a full-body exercise? Capitalize on the instability of an exercise ball (it makes you work harder) and try the tuck crunch. This move strengthens your core while toning your low abs, arms, chest, and shoulders. Learn how to do this straightforward move by watching the video; we love it so much that we've even included a variation to work your obliques. Once you mastered the tuck crunch, be sure to try the more challenging plank to pike exercise.

Work Your Abs Without Crunches: Quadruped

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:06:16 PST

Let's face it, crunches are overrated. There are plenty of other exercises that work your abdominals while training the muscles in your back. When the front and back of your torso work together, it's a win-win situation for your core. This variation of the quadruped (named such since you're on all fours - get it?) also targets the obliques. Do 15 reps on each side to make set. Aim to do at least two sets to three sets.

If you're totally over crunches, check out our Yoga Abs video for three full body exercises that target your abs.

Work Your Abs With Yoga!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:42:16 PDT

We all know that yoga is a great way to de-stress, but the ancient practice can also help you tone your midsection. You can fire up your abs by simply rounding your spine as you move from downward dog into plank. Add a twist and you're working your obliques. Watch this video to learn three moves that target your abs while working your arms and booty, too. Can you tell that I love these exercises?

Weekend Workout: Arms, Abs, and Booty on the Ball

FitSugar — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:05:46 PDT

If you're pressed for time and can't fit in a long workout, you can still effectively tone your upper body, core, and tush. Grab an exercise ball and do 20 reps of each exercise, and cycle through the routine three times.

Push-Ups With Tuck Crunch

Crunches on an Exercise Ball

Plank Booty Leg Lifts

Itching for more short workouts? Check out these Weekend Workouts to learn how to tone other areas of your body.

Celeb Trainer Nicole Stuart Shows Us Single Leg Stretch

Michele Foley — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:05:13 PST

Celebrity trainer and Pilates instructor Nicole Stuart spends her days keeping celeb clients like Kate Hudson and Anna Faris in shape, and for the next week, she'll be doing the same for us. Today she is demonstrating Single Leg Stretch, a move that works the low abs and also challenges your coordination.

To start, lie on your back with your knees in tabletop position.
Pull your right knee in toward your chest. Your outside hand should be near your ankle, and your inside hand near your knee. As you pull your right knee in, extend your left leg all the way out at a 45-degree angle. Gently lift your head up, keeping your chin slightly down. Engage your abs and bring your upper back off of the floor. The bottom tips of your shoulder blades are just off the mat, and your abs are anchored throughout the exercise.
Hold here for two counts.
Keeping your head off of the mat, switch sides by pulling your left knee in toward the chest and extending your right leg out.
Repeat 10 times.

Tip: create resistance by pulling your knee in while pushing it out at the same time. Be aware of not hyperextending the knees during this exercise.

Celeb Trainer Nicole Stuart Shows Us The Hundred

Michele Foley — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:55 PST

Celebrity trainer and Pilates instructor Nicole Stuart spends her days keeping clients Kate Hudson and Anna Faris in shape, and for the next week, she'll be doing the same for us. Today she is demonstrating The Hundred, a foundational move in Pilates that not only works your abs, but also challenges you to breathe correctly. A great way to warm up for a workout!

Source

4 Reasons to Ditch Crunches

Self — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:12 PST

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Although most of the country is in a deep freeze, it's getting to be that time of year when we all freak out about getting in shape for summer. Always first to mind: our bloated-from-holiday-fun belly. We're constantly receiving mixed intel about how to workout our abs. So, we were psyched to pick up a copy of a new book The New Rules of Lifting for Abs by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove, two of the most-respected fitness minds out there.

Based on the latest research and science, they share the ultimate plan for not only finding those flat abs, but also for ensuring that your abdominals succeed at their primary objective: To protect your spine.

Rule #1: Forget crunches - for good this time! "Crunches work if your goal is to add muscle mass to your midsection, and if you're will to work with enough weight, at a high enough intensity," says Schuler. "But who has the goal of a bigger waistline?" Umm . . . not us! According to Schuler the other problem with crunches is that they exacerbate problems with posture. "Most of us sit for long hours, day after day, week after week, year after year, hunching over communication devices that get smaller but demand a bigger slice of our time," he says. "The natural curve in our lower back starts to flatten out, and our shoulders round forward. If we were horizontal instead of vertical we'd look like we were doing one long crunch for eight to ten hours a day."
The bottom line: The best way to work you abdominal muscles - for bikini and health purposes - is to make them stabilize your spine in increasing challenging positions.

Here are three of Schuler's go-to moves to get you started:

Maximize Your Workout: Get Kirsched! in a New York Minute

Guest Writer — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:47:05 PDT

The following post was written by New York-based trainer David Kirsch.

It’s Autumn in Manhattan, and the days are growing shorter by the minute. Although time is always of the essence for a busy New Yorker, you know you're in for a serious time crunch when even the New York minute seems to lose a few seconds.

Down in the dumps because you don't have enough time to exercise? Stop the clock, and give yourself a little credit. Even the most skilled of multitaskers have trouble accomplishing all on the daily checklist - especially when you think your wellness program requires you to devote 90 minutes to exercise!

Don't get me wrong, a well-rounded cardio and cardio sculpting routine is essential to getting your best body. With that said, the talent of getting in - and getting out - of the gym is a necessary skill for those with a hectic schedule. Learn to maximize your workout and get the same results with this ultimate cardio-sculpting circuit. You’ll feel an entire body burn, including your arms, abs, legs, and butt- with this fat-blasting sequence:

Practicing my signature combination moves will scorch the calories, burn the fat, and tone sexy, sinewy muscles . . . All in one workout! Now that’s a serious Kirsching! For more cardio-sculpting routines, you can find them in the Ultimate New York Body Plan.

Add these three time-saving moves to your next workout.

View 5 Photos ›

For more tips, recipes, and workouts, be sure to check out all of David's posts here on FitSugar.

Back to School Exercise: Alphabet Abs

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:00:06 PDT

We've been singing the alphabet song multiple times a day at my house; it's kind of a pre-kindergarten musical cram session. Since my darling 5-year-old loves to count my push-up reps (great for practicing her numbers), I now combine her lovely singing voice with my new fave abdominal exercise. I lie on my back, point my toes to the ceiling, and write the ABCs with my feet while she slowly recites the letters. Slowing down the song helps her actually separate the middle letters of the alphabet (gone is the slurred "ella mellow pea" that long took the place of letters L through P), and I get homemade musical accompaniment.

For more specifics on this great exercise keep on reading.

Get on the Ball: Abs and Triceps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:00:17 PDT

I don't mind doing crunches, as long as my body is supported on a ball. It makes it much more comfy on my spine, and they also feel more effective since I end up having to use my legs to keep me balanced. This variation combines some triceps work, so you'll work two areas at once.

For directions on how to do this multitasking move,

Sit on a ball with one dumbbell (or two lighter-weight dumbbells). Walk your feet forward and slowly rest your upper back on the ball. Your feet should be hip-width distance apart and your knees over your ankles. Engage your legs and abs to keep your hips raised so your thighs are parallel with the floor.
Maintain this stable position with your lower body and raise your arms overhead. Keep a slight bend in your elbows. This is the start position.
Exhale to lift your torso just enough so your shoulder blades come up off the ball, doing a crunch. As you lift up, draw your elbows in to the sides of your chest. As you inhale, slowly lower your torso back to the ball, bringing your arms back to the starting position. This counts as one rep. Don't rush through your movements. The slower you move, the more you'll feel it in your abs and arms.
Complete three sets of 12 to 15 reps.