MB Ab Blaster
Description
Of all the abdominal exercises, this is my personal favorite. I actually think it’s the best stomach exercise out there. If you’re able to perform it properly, I highly recommend implementing it into your workout program. It’s tricky at first but you’ll eventually master the movement and once you do, you’ll feel it the next day as you sit up out of bed. The most common mistakes when performing this movement relate to timing. Don’t sit up until your feet make contact with the ground and make sure you allow the medicine ball to roll off your fingertips in a fluid movement rather than moving to an upright position and throwing from there.
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Execution
- From a seated position, flex knees to a 90 degree angle and lean back slightly till you feel a slight isometric contraction on the abdominal region.
- Grasp an appropriately weighted medicine ball with arms fully extended and hold directly above your chest.
- While keeping arms extended, lower back down to the mat in a controlled motion. As you lower yourself, allow the weighted ball to drift back until making slight contact with the mat. In this position, your mid-arm should be lined up at ear level and you should be in complete contact with the mat with the exception of your flexed legs.
- Flex at the hips , extend legs and anteriorly rotate pelvis (raise legs till bum curls off of the mat). Hold the extended leg position, contract the lower abdominals and lower down at a controlled speed. Flex at the knees as you lower your legs so you end up with legs back in the starting position.
- The moment that your heels make contact with the mat, perform a crunch and let the momentum cause the medicine ball to roll off your fingertips and into your spotters hands.
- In the upright position while contracting your abdominals, wait for your spotter to gently toss the ball back into your hands. Extend arms and lower down slowly repeating step 3.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
To increase the difficulty, have your spotter push down on the medicine ball on the downward phase of the movement.
Another variation is to switch the order in which the steps are performed. Example, perform three leg raises in a row or three consecutive crunch-toss movements.
A good finisher to this exercise is to superset with the plank exercise, otherwise known as the “core stabilization bridge”. Remember, the further you put your arms from under your body, the more difficult it gets to hold.
Machine Crunches
Description
Machine crunches are an excellent choice for both beginner and advanced trainees. Beginners will find machine crunches to be a practical alternative due to the movement simplicity and the option to select a relatively light resistance. Since the adjustable stack allows the option to increase the weights to otherwise impractical loads, advanced trainees commonly opt to incorporate machine crunches to perform their heavy repetitions to work on maximal strength.
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Execution
- Adjust the seat to a position that allows the pad to line up across the chest.
- Position the lower legs behind the foot pads and hands atop the outer portion of the chest padding with elbows to the sides.
- Perform an abdominal set to protect the lower back.
- Exhale and crunch forward until a contraction is felt within the abdominal region.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, lower back down to a position just shy of starting position. Stopping shy of the starting position will ensure that the abdominals uphold the muscular contraction.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Stabilization Bridge
Description
This is a great core stability exercise that calls upon the core muscles - primarily the abdominals - to contract isometrically in order to stabilize the torso and prevent the pelvic region from collapsing. While this movement works well on its own, it is particularly effective when used in conjunction with abdominal movements such as the MB combo crunch. Using the core stabilization bridge as a superset finisher is very effective way to take the abdominals to a further extent of muscle fatigue.
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Execution
- The set up for this exercise has you lying face down with forearms against the ground at shoulder width and hands facing forward.
- With feet together, elevate the torso into a bridge position. The only points of ground contact should be the forearms and the toes.
- Focus on keeping the back straight and maintaining the bridge position. Make sure to breath while your holding the position.
- Hold position until muscle failure is reached.
Variations
Positioning the forearms wider then the shoulders will increase the difficulty and place more stress on the abdominals.
Having a training partner sit across the shoulders is also an effective way add resistance and increase the difficulty. Ensure that your partner sits across your upper back in alignment to where your forearms are placed. If your partner sits too low, additional stress will be placed on the lower back making you more susceptible to injury.
Performing the movement with knees on the ground will decrease the difficulty. This is the best option for beginners.
Medicine Ball Twister
Description
Although under-utilized, this exercise is a great way to strengthen the core region. Twisting the legs from side to side is especially effective when it comes to recruiting the oblique muscles. The addition of a medicine ball further enhances the movements effectiveness.
Execution
- While lying on your back, bend the knees to a 45 degree angle and place an appropriately weighted medicine ball between your inner thighs.
- Inhale and in a controlled motion, rotate your legs to the side, stopping short of making contact with the ground.
- Exhale and twist the legs to the opposing side. The result should be a smooth semi-circular motion.
- Continue until the desired number of repetitions are completed
Variations
Placing the medicine ball between the ankles instead of the inner thighs will make the movement more demanding on the torso.
Increasing the speed of the motion will increase the amount of eccentric stability needed from the obliques in order to decelerate the movement prior to making ground contact.
The movement can also be performed without the medicine ball. Beginners can go through the motion with the knees bent while advanced trainees can perform the exercise with the legs extended.
Performing the semi-circular motion with your legs while hanging from a pull-up apparatus is yet another advanced version of the movement
Olympic Bar Twists
Description
The core region is the centre-point in which speed and strength stems from. A well developed core will improve both athletic performance and the efficiency at which you complete your everyday activities. The functional aspect of the core twist is what makes it so effective. It’s a movement that incorporates and develops core stability, rotary efficiency and body awareness. You should certainly consider incorporating this core strength exercise into your routine.
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Execution
- Position one end of an Olympic sized barbell in a secure position, preferably between the walls of a nearby corner.
- Load the opposing end with barbells to increase the difficulty of the exercise. Lift the weighted end upwards and grasp the bar with both hands at shoulder height. The bar should be at approximately a 45 degree angle.
- Position your shoulders square to the bar. Bend knees slightly and tighten up your abdominals.
- Inhale and without excessively bending the elbows, slowly drop weight off to your side.
- Exhale and after the momentum is controlled, rotate the bar in a semi-circle to the other side.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Upright Leg Lifts
Description
Since the lower portion of the stomach is such a problematic area for so many people, this is an extremely common lower stomach exercise. The upright leg lift exercise is both easy to do and when done properly, it’s quite effective - done properly being the key words. Unfortunately, people rarely seem to perform the upright leg lift exercise to its full potential. By simply elevating your legs (as most people do), you’re actually targeting your hip flexors more than the abdominals.
Sure, the abs are recruited, but they’re recruited as a movement stabilizer more than anything. To get a more effective abdominal contraction, you’ll need to perform what’s known as a pelvic tilt. As the name indicates, this is accomplished by tilting your pelvis (hip bones) upwards throughout the movement execution. If you combine the pelvic tilt movement with an inhalation (draw your navel in towards your spine), you’ll properly perform what’s known as an “abdominal set”.
Doing this will protect your lower back, activate the deep muscles within the core and it will also ensure that you get the most from each contraction.
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Execution
- Grasp handles with a neutral grip and rest forearms on the padding provided. Perform abdominal set.
- Exhale and elevate your legs while making sure to rotate your pelvis forward. Your lower back should slightly curl off the padding.
- Inhale and lower your legs back down to starting position at a controlled speed.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
When performing the upright leg lift exercise, extending your legs throughout motion will increase the difficulty of the movement.
In addition to extending your legs, additional resistance can also be added by placing a medicine ball between your inner thighs.
By rotating the legs to the side (bringing your knees towards your elbows) you can target the oblique muscles (sides).
The upright leg lift exercise can also be performed while lying with your back flat on the mat/floor.
Crunches
Description
The stomach crunch exercise is perhaps the most popular of all the abdominal toning movements. It seems as though the less a person knows about health & fitness, the more likely they are to view the exercise as being the ticket to a six-pack. Well, it’s been said before and I’ll say it again - crunches will not flatten your stomach. In order to have visible abdominals, you need to have a low level of body fat. This is accomplished through proper nutrition and an appropriate training program as a whole. In terms of exercises, believe it or not, deadlifts, power cleans and pretty much any multi-joint/compound movement will be more effective than crunches when it comes to shedding unwanted body fat. However, what crunches WILL do is strengthen and develop the abdominals so once you get those body fat levels down, your abs will look that much more impressive.
A couple key points
- If you can avoid it, don’t anchor your feet
- Perform an abdominal set prior to execution
- Don’t pull on your neck
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Execution
- Lie on your back and bend your knees to a 45 degree angle. Your heels should be in contact with the ground.
- Cross your arms over your chest so that your fingertips are touching the front of your shoulders.
- Perform an “abdominal set” by inhaling and slightly rotating the pelvis forward.
- Exhale, elevate and curl your upper body towards your thighs.
- Inhale and lower back down slowly. The back of your shoulders should not make contact with the floor in between repetitions.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.