Ive tried crunches and they only toned my upper abs. My lower part is still poking out
128711
There is no such thing at top or bottom lower or upper abs!!! Your abs are one big muscle! When your work your abs you work the whole thing. If you're looking to TONE your abs try these exercises \n\nPlanks are great for working your core - while on your forearms and knees, clasp your hands together so your forearms make a V. Straighten your legs to balance on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Tighten your buttt and abs and try to maintain a straight line from your shoulders to your heels. Hold for 10 seconds and try to work your way up to 30. Repeat. \n\nBack lifts are also good - lie on your stomach with your hands on your lower back. Raise your chest 3 or 4 inches off the floor while keeping your legs on the floor. Hold for 5 seconds then repeat 10 times at least. \n\nAir Bike - Lie on your back and put your hands behind your head. Raise your legs so your thighs are perpendicular and your lower legs are just above parallel to the floor. Curl up and bring your left elbow toward your right side while drawing your right knee in to meet it. It is like you are riding a bike. Alternate sides, continuing the motion back and forth. Remember, don't just flap your elbow across your body, actually rotate your shoulder across and squeeze your abs.\n\nAlternate heel touchers - Works your obliques. In order to complete 1 repetition, each heel must be touched once. So, get into position, crunch over and touch your right heel once, then crunch over and touch your left heel once, and now you've completed 1 repetition. Lie down on the floor. Bend your knees and keep your feet 18-24 inches apart. Keep your arms straight down at your sides. Crunch forward and up about 3-4 inches. Remember to keep your lower back pressed flat against the ground. Keep your head in a neutral position. Alternate touching your right heel and then your left heel. Remember, touching each heel once is one rep!\n\nBent knee Hip raise - This is like the Reverse Crunch but with a longer range of motion. Outstretch your hands to your sides with your knees bent at a 60 degree angle and your feet just off the floor. Using your lower abs, roll your pelvis backward to raise your hips off of the floor. Your knees will be over your chest. Squeeze your abs and then return to the starting position slowly. You can straighten your legs to make it harder or wear ankle weights.\n\nButtt Ups - Begin a pushup position but with your elbows on the ground and resting on your forearms. Your elbows should be bent at a 90 degree angle. Arch your back slightly out rather than keeping your back completely straight. Raise your glutes toward the ceiling, squeezing your abs tightly to close the distance between your ribcage and hips so you end up in a high bridge position. Lower back down slowly to your starting position. Repeat. Don't let your back sag downwards.\n\nCross body crunches - Lie on your back and bend your knees about 60 degrees and keep your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands loosely behind your head. Curl up and bring your right elbow and shoulder across your body while bring your left knee in toward your left shoulder at the same time. Reach with your elbow and try to touch your knee. Do one side for all your reps, then switch to the other side. Try to bring your shoulder up towards your knee rather than just your elbow.\n\nCrunches - hands over head -This variation makes it tougher than regular crunches. Lie on the floor with your knees bent. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Stretch your arms overhead and cross your palms. Curl your upper body forward and bring your shoulder blades just off the floor. Keep your arms aligned with your head, neck and shoulder. Don't move them forward from that position! Slowly lower down after squeezing your abs tight\n\nCrunches - Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, or resting on a bench with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. If you are resting your feet on a bench, place them three to fo
521761
This is E-Z i don't care what anyone says about AB Lounge or ABs of steel thats harder. Crunches and Sit-ups are the best way to tone up. Greek god did'em You can use a weight or medicane ball to help you up and down while doing it but that is the best way to get abs hands down. 1,000 a day 100 here 100 there 1000 a day.
234809
No stomach exercises are easy. Persistence and determination are the best things. Crunches work great if you are determined. Try some leg raisers. Lay flat on your back and lift your legs up to the ceiling and even bringing them back over your head. This does wonders for the lower abs. Do them slow and controlled. Also, you say you go to the gym. Ask them their as there are many different ones you can do. Watch them also and learn.
676091
First of all, congrats on your weight loss efforts! If you want to flatten and tone your stomach, what you need to do is strength train. That means doing crunches (the regular crunch and reverse crunch), the bicycle crunch, the side crunch, the ab reach and the crunch on a workout ball are all good. For info on doing these exercises check out: http://www.toneteen.com/exercises/stomach.htm \n\nDoing these exercises with weights will help build muscle and your abs will look even better! Good luck!
209407
tighten your abs and point your feet/toes to the forward direction.....good luck
302158
if you find out can you let me know!!!\n\nSome of us just aren't lucky enough to get back tyhe figure we had before mother hood.\n\nIf your back hurst with sit ups try something like Yoga or pilates it could help tone a little.
314185
1) slow down your reps\n2) lower the reps and up the weight\n3) watch your form and be sure you are isolating the   muscles properly with your movements\n3) break up the crunches into MAX sets of 20 or 30, and vary the type of ab work you do (just straight crunches don't target enough)
18133
Focus on crunches which work the abdominals much better than sit-ups.  \n\nHere's a short list, but I would advise to seek the advice of a personal trainer for proper execution and intensity.\n\nhttp://preventdisease.com/fitness/Strength_Exercises_abdominals.html
77869
the best way to tone in that area is to do 30 mins of cardio at least 3 times a week.  as far as exercises go for abs, do crunches with your legs extended straight up lying flat on the floor.  extend your arms above your head towards the ceiling.  raise your shoulders slowly upward, reaching your arms toward your toes.  do 4 sets of 12 crunches, during each set don't let your shoulders touch the ground.  for thighs lie on the ground with your feet flat on the floor.  raise your hips up and down, tightening your glutes (this will also work your butt).  alternate lifting one leg off the ground, holding it straight out.  also do 4 sets of 12.  if you have any other questions you can e-mail me at emmalee_1633@yahoo.com.  i am a certified personal trainer but i've taken a higher position at the fitness company i work for so i'd be happy to help you :)
6609
I know you've heard it before: crunches. Yep, they work.  If you find crunches difficult to do - try getting a hand on a book or video on Pilates. Their program is focused on making a magnificent mid-section. Even their basic exercise is already a good belly toner.
479401
crunches and push ups, for crunches you only bend your stomache upwards, as if u were crushing nuts on ur belly, dont do situps, bad for the lower back\nnow push-ups are good, and there are differemt kinds for different muscles!\nok so we start with your hands shoulder width apart. this works out your chest. next you put your hands very close together, touching, as if your making a diamond with your hands. this works out mainly your triceps. next put your hands further out then shoulder width. this workd out shoulders and a little bit of your back. obviousely all are push ups so they work out your chest always. for added dificulty put your feet on a chair to do them, this applys more weigh. it also works out upper chest rather than mid chest, same deal if u elevate your front half, but only slightly on this one because this aleviates weight, the higher this slant the easier, but it works lower chest\n\nhopes this helps with ur limited space
540275
crunches but not just simple crunches try putting both your hands on the back of your head and raise your head laying flat and lift your legs alitte over 8 inches r till where its stranious and hold for 20 seconds, after every 20 seconds lift your legs pass that and spread them apart in a butterfly motion then drop back into the 8 inch position but NEVER let your feet touch to the ground also keep your hands behind your head raised, your body should make the shape of a skateboard \n\nThe bicycle exercise:\nput your hands on the back of your head(like your relaxing) raise your head, and lift your legs up and move them like your on a bicycle TIP: raising your back off the ground and rocking from side to side (like the song) while doing the bicycle motion will put effect on every area of your stomach and burn fat right off, its going to burn alot but it works \n\n6 Pak exercise:\nnormal crunch position but lift one leg and lift your head on the same side you lift your leg, that works the right or the left side of your stomach: for those of you that dont know normal crunches work the top part of your abs and thats about it but those with short stomachs it works the top and the middle a tad so its just a 4 pack but switcin up and balancing your legs and things of that nature will get the job done
41337
running really works the stomach, if you do a combination of crunches, situps, then try twisting your torso when you do a situp that works the obliques, and then lay on the floor and hold your feet a couple inches off the floor and raise them up and when you come down stop a couple inches before you touch the floor that will really work the lower abs
463756
Well it sounds like you're pretty fit already. You do alot of running which is great cardio and it really works your legs. But do you pay attention to ur abs? Do you do crunches or sit ups? There are other exercises you can do, too! Like hang from a bar by your hands keeping your arms straight, cross your legs and try to raise them to your chest. Or, while keeping your legs straight, lie down with a medicine ball between your feet and raise your legs so that your legs and your abdomen make a 90 degree angle. There are plenty of things you can do to get those abs!\n\nGOOD LUCK!
168807
You doing alot of crunches and not enough of shaking up the fat.  You have to run as well.  Get that extra weigh off you.\n\nYou should do abs every night.  I do 100 squats a night and my butt is tight!  I'd say do cardio today, tomorrow, the day after .....
134379
Well, that's kind of what doing sit-ups is supposed to do :) Try doing crunches instead.  Lay on your back with your legs either resting on a bench or a bed, put your hands behind your head, and use your abs to pull your shoulder blades off the ground.  It'll work mainly your upper abs, so try to supplement by doing some bike work or knee tucks, flutter kicks, etc., for your lower abs.
221761
You need to do a lot of crunches, or if you have access to an ab lounger, it works beautifully without back pain. Good Luck!