Does anybody know an effective ab workout besides sit-ups that can be done without using any equipment?
206850
Planks 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 four inches apart and point your toes inward so they touch. Place your hands lightly on either side of your head keeping your elbows in. Don't lock your fingers behind your head! Push the small of your
566330
you could always do a bunch of crunches and stuff every night....or even pilates or something like that. im personally pretty fond of pilates...it's a really good ab workout
592508
If your interested in developing your abs and effectively learning exercises and methods to reduce bodyfat in your abdominal area, the best advice I can give you is to stay away from the Ab Lounge.\n\nHere are some effective abdominal exercises for your reference. Please seek the advice of a personal trainer for correct execution before attempting any of these.\nhttp://www.preventdisease.com/fitness/Strength_Exercises_abdominals.html\n\nHere's a previous post of mine on some great tips on how to effectively develop your abs.\n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlBM550D3hRcviKly78bfwXsy6IX?qid=20060625112300AA3i6PV\n.\n.\n.
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
495736
go to www.bellaonline.com under weight loss and fitness they have great ab exercises
59110
Absolutely, positively, without a doubt NONE!!!  Save your money and stay away from any and all AB machines if your interested in showing off a six pack.  \n\nFor the upper abs, focus on crunches which effectively work the abdominals better than sit-ups or any machine on the market.\n\nFor the lower abs, keep in mind there is very little muscle tissue there so decreasing levels of body fat is the most effective way to bring out the best in this area.\n\nRegarding exercises for the lower abs, you need to try and disengage your hip flexors (psoas muscles) as much as possible so that they don't override any efforts to contract your abs. That's why it's very important to never anchor your feet under any fixed device when doing situps. \n\nHanging leg raises, v-situps and reverse curls are among some of the best exercise for this region.\nAlways make sure your pelvis curls up to maximize lower abdominal contraction during these exercises.\n\nHere's a link with a complete list of ab exercises:\nhttp://www.preventdisease.com/fitness/Strength_Exercises_abdominals.html\n\nAlso here's a tool to help you evaluate your stength in this region compared to the population average (note: only anchor your feet for testing purposes only and not during your workouts)\n\nhttp://www.preventdisease.com/healthtools/articles/sit-up_test.html\n\nI would advise to seek the advice of a personal trainer for proper execution and intensity.
608145
1.)  8 Minute Abs\n2.)  Cardio\n3.)  Lower your fat intake and drink alot of water.  \nYou must do all of these.  Sit ups alone wont do it.  You have to get rid of the layer of fat that covers your abdominal muscles.  8 minute abs work like a charm.  Try it.  Its so awesome but you will be so sore the first few times.
606308
The older you get this seems to be false. I think that if you want a slimmer waist, then sit-ups alone is not going to do the job. You can have a six-pack, but it will not show if your waist is covered in fat. A diet and a good Abdominal workout three times a week is probably best. Something that hits the Ab's at every possible angle like three set's of the following:\n1) Sit-ups\n2) Broomsticks (waist twisting)\n3) Crunches\n4) Leg Raises\n5) Left & Right Obliques\n6) Situps W/ weights\n\nThis along with a light diet works best for me.\n-Kevin82abn
175420
Sit ups are a fantastic way to get abs. However, i suggest buying an excercise ball to do these, so you don't have to get on the ground and cause injury (it will come with instructions, so you can choose the best position for you). The ball is pretty cheap aswell. Do about 40 sets a day, it really does WORK!
381300
There are many exercises that will help train your core.  However, your abs will not be visable if your body fat is too high.  \n\nSo, do crunches, hanging knee raises, cable pull down, etc.... but keep the diet in check or you won't be able to see your hard work.  \n\nFeel free to contact me if you have more questions.
136169
At 130, unless you are really really short, you don't really need to diet.  Just do some light weight lifting to tone your arm and leg muscles.  If you can't afford or otherwise don't have access to a gym, just buy some hand/leg weights at walmart ($20 or less probably). Pilates works well too, you can just get a video and make sure to do exactly what it says (most of the ones I have are by Denise Austin).  Carmen Electra has created some seduction exercise dvds, that are based on exotic dancing (my sister said they are good for exercise and ideas) you'll have to search for it online. Also, there are belly dancing exercise videos, i have one and it's a lot more fun than some other workouts plus it directly targets those trouble spots.  You may want to add how much time you have till the cruise to your question.  If it's within a month you're going to have to work out a lot harder than if it is 3 or 4 months away.  If you are capable, running is one of the best ways to tighten your abs, and it's not nearly as anoying as situps.
26139
Try doing crunches from a sitting position, in a straight backed chair. You get the same results, with much less discomfort to your back. You just need to pull your knees up toward you and let them down slowly. It works wonders!
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!
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.
517766
Be sure to do cardio because your abs won't show if they're covered under a layer of fat.\n\nInterestingly, push-ups, chin-ups, and jogging work your abs because to do all of those properly you need to hold your stomach in.
212236
if you already have a cardio routine keep doing that and maybe step it up a level and i hear that reverse crunches work pretty well.(those are the kind where you pull your knees into your chest)
382763
you need to decide what you want - effective or easy.  \n\nI hate to tell you but just doing ab exercises are not going to make the fat go away.  You must lose the weight with cardio.  All te crunces, situps, etc will do it build muscle, but you will never see it if there is a layer of fat.