5 Six Pack Abs Exercises That Really Work

When it comes to exercising the belly, the best ones are those that really zoom in on the abdominal muscles. So the following are 5 of the best six pack abs exercises, to help you turn your dream body into a reality. They include: bicycle, long arm crunches, reversed crunches, vertical leg crunches, and plank. Except for the last routine, do them in 12-16 reps, with 3 sets each.



The bicycle targets the obliques and the full length of your rectus abdominis. Begin by getting on the floor and putting your hands at the back of your head. See to it that your lower back is flat against the ground. With your knees extended upwards and bent at around 45 degrees, do a pedaling motion. Your right knee should go towards your left elbow, then your left knee should go towards your right elbow each time.

Adding more challenge to the typical floor crunches is the long arm crunches. It works out the rectus abdominis, stressing on the upper part. While on the floor, take your arms above your head. Make sure your arms are next to your ears. Take your upper back off the ground. While doing crunches, maintain that your arms are straight.

The reverse crunches, on the other hand, stresses on the lower part of the rectus abdominis. To do this, lie on the floor. Placing your palms down on it will give you support. Extend your legs upward, then bend your knees at about 90 degrees. Your feet may be either placed together or crossed. Lift your hips as you tighten your belly area. Make sure you don't swing your legs.



An effective workout routine for the obliques and rectus abdominis is the vertical leg crunches. Get on the floor, take both your feet towards the ceiling. Cross the legs as you do so. You can place your hands either on the floor as support, or at the back of your head. Slowly lift your upper back, keeping your feet directed upwards, then return to starting position.

There may not be a lot of movements done when performing the plank. But it's great for working out the abdominal and back muscles. Using your forearms to prop up your upper body, get on the floor facing it. Your position should be that of a straight line, inclined from the head to your feet. Hold the position, while tightening the belly area, for 20 seconds to a full minute. Do 3-5 reps to be effective.

It's best to pair these 5 six pack abs exercises with cardio workouts. That's because they can help in melting off those layers of fat, which keep your abdominal muscles from being evident.