Crunches – done regularly – are the easiest and best exercise for toning the abs. We all know it. We all get a little bored with crunches, though. So let’s try reverse crunches – an exercise that works the lower abs (a real problem area for women).

1. Lie on your back with your hands palms down just beneath your buttocks and your back pressed flat to the floor.
2. Bend your legs a little at the knees, cross your ankles, and lift your legs above you, feet to the ceiling.
3. Contract (squinch) your lower abs to pull your hips up off the floor a few inches and release. This movement is small and controlled. Don’t use momentum (rocking) to move your hips or legs, just tighten up those lower abs and your hips will lift. Exhale as you contract your abs and keep your knees bent at the same angle throughout.
4. Repeat two sets of 8-12 repetitions, resting for 15 seconds between sets.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 9:07 am and is filed under Exercise and fitness, Fitness Friday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.