There are of course very many ways to train your abs, and many exercises not thought of as ab exercises, as such, will also have a very beneficial effect on them simply because this group of muscles are so crucial in balancing and stabilising the body whenever any part of it is called upon to bear an exceptional load.

But some of the more traditionally popular “ab-specific” exercises have recently become somewhat discredited. Personal trainers and conditioning coaches now believe that there arefar more effective alternatives to the conventional sit-ups, leg-raises and crunches that have been such a feature of body-building and fitness routines for so many years.

Click Here to see the exact steps that “ordinary guy” Alex Miller used to lose 36 pounds of body fat and FINALLY get six-pack abs.
Check out Alex’s inspirational pictures and also the Q&A we put together on how he achieved these results (very informative and inspirational!)

This is not to say, however, that they need be neglected altogether; they can still form part of a very effective abs routineprovided that intensity is maintained.

Here’s a way to do this, combining sit-ups, leg-raises and crunches in one single movement which may just be the best ab exercise out there.

This move is variously called the “jackknife”, “V-up” or “pike”, and is a very powerful, whole body movement which really works hard on both the upper and lower abs, and also the lower back. In other words it’s working your core, that girdle of muscles round and deep in your middle which are crucial not just for a flat stomach and a lean athletic look, but also for stabilising your entire body while you’re working your legs, shoulders, arms or back. A strong core is also absolutely vital for success in any sport which involves your body in twisting, turning, bending or generating explosive power.

So, to “jackknife”:

• Lie on your back with legs straight and arms extended fully, hands touching the floor behind your head. Inhale.
• Breathe out and simultaneously lift your hands and feet and try to touch them together, lifting your legs and body from the floor into a “V” shape.
• Lower yourself slowly back down, but keep your feet a little off the ground at all times.

Repeat for as many reps as you can – until you can no longer get your body off the ground.

Caution: this exercise is not nearly as easy as it looks or sounds and will get you breathing hard within few reps. You will probably also find that you initially struggle to reach your feet, but if you can only reach your knees, that’s fine. Keep your legs as straight as you can and persevere. It’s this intensity that makes this possibly the single best ab exercise there is.

And the real beauty of it is that this very intensity means that just a few minutes a day – in the morning at home – will be enough to have a dramatic effect on your waistline.

When you’ve gained a little experience with the exercise why not try an even tougher variation:-
simply perform the exercise in the normal way, but pause at the highest “V” position you can currently attain. Hold for as long as you can, breathing deeply and squeezing your muscles, aiming for 30 seconds to a minute.

You only need to do 1 rep, and it will be plenty; the powerful muscle contraction and squeeze on the abdominal organs combining to give you the best possible ab exercise.

If you want to get a lean, toned and shapely stomach in the shortest time then click here for access to these great free downloads
Mike Geary’s – Insider Secrets For A Lean Body (e-book)
Tom Venuto’s – Six Pack Abs Revealed (e-book)
David Grisaffi’s – Posture & Core Conditioning (e-book)
Mike Geary and Jeff “Muscle Nerd” Anderson (90 minute MP3 audio)

Enjoy!

Steve

© 2011 Effective Ab Workouts