At one point or another, we have all done our share of lower abs exercises. After all, who wants to have pot, pig and beer bellies when we can have six-pack abs? Or at least, flat abs that we can proudly parade in two-piece swimsuits.
Still, we may be tempted to rely on weight loss pills, strict diets and prayers to achieve flat abs, all because we become lazy doing the exercises required of us. And then there is also the fact that we live such busy lives that finding the time to perform the 30-minute workout is just one too many minutes wasted.
Add in the common misconception that we have to purchase expensive exercise equipment and truly we shall become as lazy as the sloth where exercise is concerned. This should not be, however, especially with the following easy-to-do, bodyweight-only exercises.
Bicycle Exercise
You will find that the bicycle exercise is one of the lower abs exercises that produce the best results. This is because it works on both the main abdominal muscles that manifest as the six-packs as well as on the supporting obliques. Ultimately, you will be able to sustain your washboard abs because the side muscles that support it are equally well-developed.
Exercise Ball Crunch
This is the only exception in this list of abs exercises because you will require an exercise ball. Still, the purchase cost should pay for itself in terms of the versatility of the exercise equipment as well as in the lower back support it provides in the performance of exercises for the lower abs. Basically, you lie on top of the exercise ball and perform basic crunches for about 12-16 reps.
Full Vertical Crunch
You can either just lie on the floor or use an exercise mat for the full vertical crunch. In addition to the bicycle exercise, this is yet another of most effective exercises towards the development of a better stomach. And why not when it actually engages your lower and upper body, thus, making for a more balanced body?
Long Arm Crunch
For upper and lower abs, you can perform the usual abdominal crunch except that that your arms are stretched out in your front instead of being folded at the elbows with your hands on your nape. You should take proper care not to strain your neck since your focus is on contracting your abs.
Plank Exercise
Although the American Council on Exercise ranked the plank exercise on the bottom of its top ten best abs exercises, it is still very effective. You will find that with each passing day that you perform this exercise, your lower back and front muscles are growing stronger.
Reverse Crunch
This is the most popular and most familiar of all exercises for the lower abs. It is actually also very good for the upper abs, not to mention that you basically get similar results with the reverse crunch in comparison with other more strenuous lower abs movements.
It is important to note that all these lower abs exercises cannot provide the washboard abs you have been dreaming about, far from it. You have to complement them with the proper site and right eating habits, which should be the subject of another article.
Filed under Lower Abs Exercises by on Mar 11th, 2010. 1 Comment. 
So what’s The Purpose of Leading Exercise Ball? Before looking at the motives of using a leading exercise ball, we need to understand as to what exactly are exercise balls and why are they even used in the first place? Exercise balls are also known by several alternative names such as Swiss balls or fitness balls, the latter term being more prevalent. There are several exercises in yoga, Pilates or other general workout in which the body needs to stay balanced while performing the exercise. It is under these conditions that an exercise or fitness ball is used. Virtually all exercise balls have an outer coating of soft elastic PVC which is completely harmless to the human touch and hence is ideal for contact exercises. The basic principle behind using exercise balls is to increase the effort required for exercising which will eventually help in building more muscles. There are several ways in which exercise balls are used such as by adding balance challenges during exercising or by engaging the scarcely used muscles to provide balance to the entire body which will correspondingly help in strengthening of such muscles. The leading exercise ball is a special kind of exercise ball which was invented jointly by some Swiss medical therapists. Initially, the only purpose of leading exercise ball was to provide support during various exercises and the reason as to why such a need was felt is because a rigid surface, when used for support, can induce unnecessary strain on the contact muscles. It is here that the leading exercise ball provides the solution by replacing a rigid surface with a soft, compressible surface thereby lessening the amount of muscle strain considerably. All the major muscles of the body can be strengthened by working out with the leading exercise ball. Since these balls maintain their strength even while undergoing pressure, they are quite popular even among those engaging in yoga or aerobics. Such balls are also used by several athletes who are engaged in heavy duty workout training. It’s important to note here that leading exercise balls do require some time to get used to in an optimum manner. It is not recommended that you go all out using a leading exercise ball with each and every exercise that you do, while just starting out. In fact, you should limit yourself in using a leading exercise ball with a maximum of two exercises while starting out. Of course, if you have been working out for quite some time, say two months, then you can surely use a leading exercise ball with any exercise which you have mastered during your time in the gym. Again, let me add here that a leading exercise ball should be used with caution and not by throwing caution to the wind. As mentioned earlier, leading exercise ball was originally invented to cure medical conditions but this is no longer the case. Several exercises which are done with a standing position can include a leading exercise ball to simultaneously improve the back muscles as well. Similarly for those exercises which are done in a sitting position, addition of leading exercise ball can dramatically improve the abdominal muscles.
For more information on picking a diet and workout plan for yourself you can visit my Master cleanse diet review or my 6 pack abs review.
Filed under Lower Abs Exercises Articles by on Mar 12th, 2010. Comment.