Oh well, high-profile as they are, surely this celebrities have their own personal trainers and a specific set of exercise regimens specifically designed to match their busy schedules and their physical abilities. Thus, they develop those “eye candies”.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the same resources as celebrities have. Also, not everyone has the luxury of time to indulge in those workouts. But worry not because there are some exercise tricks that can help you achieve better abs.
Check the 10 best exercise tricks that will give you those killer abs.
1. One Workout Session For Forearms, Calves and Abs.
No doubt, big guys focus on lifting weights at the gym. More often than not, one becomes too tired after lifting, to dive into abs session. Recommended by the Director of M&F Fitness is to schedule one session a week to workout your abs, forearms or calves. Training all three in one session ensures that you’re attacking them with utmost intensity, and until the end of your workout.
2. Sit-Ups With Rib Cage Closed.
You probably do your sit-up by coming up and down and without thinking much about the movement. Try to pay close attention and keep your rib cage closed when you lower down from a sit-up. This effectively helps to “crunch” your abs more, keep your back safely supported and engage your transverse abdominals.
3. Tighten Your Midsection With Kegels.
This exercise involves engaging your pelvic floor (it’s like trying to stop your urine midstream) when you do abs exercise. Your transverse abdominals acting as a girdle for your entire core should be engaged. After several sessions, you’ll get a tighter midsection, all the way around.
4. Flat Abs In Elbow Plank.
In a plank position, pull your body and lower yourself onto your elbows, keeping your shoulders over your elbows. When doing this, make sure your abs are flat and that you clench down there like when you do the Kegels. Remember your breathing without allowing your stomach or lower back to drop. Hold this for 60 seconds.
5. Add a Weight.
Afraid of dumbbells? These aren’t just for bicep curls but can also be used for the abs. You might throw in some lifting of dumbbells while doing other light routines to get stronger abs.
6. Abs Exercises that Rotate, Twist and Turn the Body.
Sit-ups help tone your abs, undoubtedly. But if you include abs exercises which require your body to rotate, turn and twist, like you ordinarily do in real life, it will be so much better than just doing sit-ups or crunches.
7. Side Elbow Plank.
Take the same starting position as the elbow plank. Turn your body to the side such that your hips are stacked above each other with your arms straightened in the air. Hold this position for 1 minute and add a hip pulse after holding it for another 30 seconds. Flip and repeat the routine on the opposite side.
8. V-Hold.
Start with your back laid on the floor. Lift your legs and back off the ground to form a V-shape, keeping your arms to the side. Maintain straight back and legs and hold the position for 15 seconds, after which you add an arm pulse. Repeat the routine for a total of 30 seconds.
9. Isometric Bicycle.
With your back laid on the floor, point your elbows out with your hands resting behind your ears. Lift your shoulders up from the floor and allow your right elbow to touch your left knee. Make sure your spine remains connected to the floor while you hold this position before switching after 20 seconds. Finish the routine with a quick bicycle move. Repeat this routine for a total of 60 seconds.
10. Basic Crunch. This exercise is great at keeping your abs flat.
Lay on your back with bended knees. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Draw your navel in as you exhale and lift your shoulders off the ground. When you inhale and release, try not to fully relax your abs. Do this routine for 60 seconds.
Try these tricks but don’t make the mistake to think that to speed up results, you have to speed through your abs workout. Start slowly to feel the burn and adjust the speed as you go along.