The Best Stomach Exercise for Women and Men

The best stomach exercise for women and for men can't be narrowed down to just one single movement.

That's like asking a parent which of their children is their favorite. It's just not a possibility.

With so many areas of the midsection to train and so many variables, you'd actually do yourself a disservice by only doing crunches all day (the exercise most people think of).

To get a flat belly, you'll want to target each of the following areas and items:

• The lower back muscles
• Lower abdominal exercises
• Oblique musculature
• Stabilizing muscles of the spine

It will be most important to target the stabilizing muscles of the spine and hips first.

After strengthening these "deeper" muscles, you'll be better able to effectively train your lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles that you can see -- aka the 6-pack.

Let's also not forget that exercise alone won't often result in the body transformation that most of us want.

Your nutrition program and your consistency with it will ultimately decide the outcome of your healthy lifestyle changes.

If they are not already, each of the following areas should be a part of your overall program.

• Warm-up and mobility exercises
• Weight lifting exercises (preferably compound rather than single joint)
• Cardiovascular exercise using an individualized Target Heart Rate Zone
• Static stretching
• a Progressive nutrition program

Effectively combining each of these daily is the most important step in achieving lasting results. That is the "best stomach exercise".

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 more ab exercises, leg training exercises, and fitness tips.

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