The Best Abdominal Exercises for Flat Abs and 6 Pack Muscle

"What are the best abdominal exercises?"

As a fitness professional, it's a question that I receive everyday -- at the gym, at the grocery store, even at the airport.

I was even asked once how to get flat abs in the health and fitness section at Barnes & Noble.

There's a fascination that men and women have with getting flat abs that seems to start early on in life.

It's probably a combination of seeing well-sculpted actors and actresses on TV and in the movies, along with all the hype from the celebrity magazine covers.

What most people don't realize (us normal people) is that getting better abdominal muscles is easier than you think.

The Evil Stomach Crunch...

The problem is that too many people go about getting a flat stomach the wrong way -- by doing too many crunches.

Sometimes I feel like it's the only ab exercise that people know. And, often, that is actually the case.

You might be wondering why stomach crunches aren't the best abdominal exercises for tightening your midsection.

The short answer is that only doing ab crunches will disrupt your body's muscular balance.

Trunk flexion (the fancy word for a crunch) forces you to lean forward repeatedly, only training the front of the body.

It begins to tighten and shorten the "beach muscles", which sounds great until you realize how weak your lower back muscles have become.

Do you remember the Hunchback of Notre Dame?

I think you catch my drift.

What Are The Best Ab Exercises?

So, what are the best ab exercises then?

The best stomach exercise or exercises are a combination of core exercises that train and strengthen the front of your body, the sides, and your lower back muscles.

And, on top of that, the very best core exercise programs not only include exercises for the muscles you can see, but for the muscles you can't see, too.

What does that mean?

A key component in finally figuring out how to get 6 pack abs is in learning how to strengthen your deep core muscles -- the muscles that support and stabilize your spine and your hips.

You can't see these muscles, and they don't create much movement.

But, the stronger these deep muscles are, the greater benefit you'll receive from your lower back exercises, rotational exercises, and your ab exercises.

Keep experimenting with new ab exercises and stop doing only stomach crunches and you'll be on your way to being ready for the beach before next summer!

Committed to your fitness success,

David Bohmiller, BS, NSCA-CSCS

Guest author David Bohmiller has coached thousands of private clients, and has mentored hundreds of aspiring fitness professionals.

Visit his website to learn exercises for lower back pain and for more on core exercise.

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