Working your abs with an exercise ball can be an exhilarating way to get a great workout! Exercise balls are fun and simple, but they add an edge to a workout.

The most basic ab routines to do with an exercise ball are a basic crunch and a medicine ball crunch.

A regular crunch will require the use of a larger inflatable exercise ball. These balls are bouncy, and they are used often in low-impact aerobics classes. To do a crunch on them requires more balance than a regular crunch and helps build up your thigh and ab muscles. Put the ball firmly on the ground and then sit on it. Make sure the ball isn’t moving before you lie back.

Your feet will stay on the ground, and you can do a crunch on the ball. Do not try to do as many reps with the exercise ball crunch as you do with regular crunches. Because you will be working on your balance, you will not need to do as many crunches to get a great workout.

The second basic way to work your abs with an exercise ball is to use a medicine ball. These balls are smaller, but they look the same as the large exercise balls. Some medicine balls are tightly inflated, but others are hard.

To do a crunch with a medicine ball, simply do a traditional crunch. Instead of putting your hands behind your head and pulling forward, hold the medicine ball in your hands. As you come up into the crunch, twist your torso slowly to the left. On the next crunch, twist your torso to the right. By doing that, you can build up the muscles along the sides of the abdominal wall.

Once you have mastered working your abs with an exercise ball with these basic routines, you can begin to branch out. Try doing standing crunches and holding the ball against you. Though it may be simple at first, you will discover that your muscles will need to work harder as you try to balance the ball on your midsection.

You also can try doing a reverse crunch on the large exercise ball. You will need excellent balance, as you will have to hold yourself up with your hands. However, if you can pull them off, these exercises are a great way to add a bit of variety to your ab workout.

By: Bill Nad

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For more information on picking a program to get that six pack abs now you can visit my six pack abs review or my master cleanse detox review.

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Learn what exercises have been scientifically proven to be most effective at getting you 6 pack abs. Also, find out which mass market ab machine was proven to be most at toning the abdominal muscles.

The chances are, if you have been trying for a while to get 6 pack abs, you have attempted many methods, only to find that nothing has worked to get you the toned, ripped abs you really want.

There are many scams out there and many people dispensing bad advice that has no grounding in the latest research into abdominal muscle development.

In fact, there are many misconceptions about the best way to get 6 pack abs, and there are also many machines, devices, and workout programs that either don’t work well or don’t work at all.

So what are the very best exercises you can use to get toned, ripped abs?

The Three Best Abs Exercises

According to a 2001 study by the American Council on Exercise, the three best exercises for upper and lower abs are: the bicycle maneuver, the captain’s chair, and crunches on an exercise ball.

Of these three top exercises, the very best, the bicycle maneuver, requires no equipment at all, and the third best exercise, crunches, while most efficiently done on an exercise ball, can be done nearly as effectively on the floor or on a mat.

That means you don’t have to spend a cent to do two of the three very best ab exercises. These exercises were proven to be more effective than the many gadgets and machines on the market, and they are both simple to do.

The second best exercise, the captain’s chair, requires a piece of equipment found at most gyms. This equipment allows you to suspend yourself in the air by your arms, resting against the back of the chair as you lift your legs.

You can learn exactly how to do any of these best ab exercises here.

The Best Abs Machine

In that same 2001 study, a few of the ab machines on the market did prove to be effective in toning the abs. In fact, the very best machine tested, the Torso Track, was found to be the fourth most effective exercise.

This machine, like the above three exercises, works both the upper and lower abs at the same time, and is also effective in toning the obliques — those muscles on the sides of your abs.

Some people just seem to prefer to use a machine when working the abs, and they find that they are more likely to follow through with an abdominal routine if they are using a machine. If you are one of these people, the Torso Track is a very good option.

However, for everyone else, the bicycle maneuver and crunches are both more effective, easy to learn, and absolutely free.

Incorporate these exercises into your ab regimen, including a solid abs diet and daily aerobic exercise (even walking will do), and you will have the most effective possible ab routine — without spending a cent!

6 Pack Abs: What Not To Do

The biggest mistake people make when working on their abs is to concentrate only on the ab exercises themselves. This is a sure way to fail.

The reason for this is that you might well develop incredible abdominal muscles, but they would still be covered in the layer of fat on your abdomen.

Therefore, in addition to working out your ab muscles, you must incorporate both a daily aerobic exercise routine and a sensible eating plan into your regimen in order to be truly successful and achieve your goals.

In fact, it is because of the lack of aerobic exercise and proper diet that most people fail in their quest to get ripped abs and a flat stomach.

There are many great diets and eating plans that will work to help you lose that layer of fat. One of the best eating plans is the Abs Diet. However, simply cutting back on saturated fats, processed grains, and sugars will go a long way to slimming your waistline.

For your daily aerobic exercise, choose an activity that you enjoy doing. This will help you stick to your routine. For instance, you can play basketball or racquetball. You can also try a combination of sprinting and walking to boost your metabolism and really burn that fat fast.

Whatever exercises and diet you chose, the most important thing is to stick with it and not get discouraged. Know that you are building sexy ripped abs, and they will be revealed in a short while, as soon as you burn off that layer of fat!

By Scott Miller Published: 7/24/2007

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Stability balls, sometimes called a Swiss Ball, come in different sizes and are made of a heavy duty vinyl product that when filled with air can hold up to 600 to 700 pounds. They can be used by just about anybody, from the exercise novice to more experienced denizens of the gym.

There are six benefits to be had when using a stability ball.

1. Proper Body Alignment – The body will use muscle groups not normally taxed during training sessions with the ball. Natural motor reflexes will improve as these different muscle groups are forced to work as you maintain balance on the ball. That is the challenge posed by the ball, maintaining balance while exercising. As balance is improved alignment of body parts is enhanced.

2. Great Ab Workout – One of the great things about using one of these balls is the ability to target the abdominal muscles. Maintaining balance while exercising with a stability ball forces the abs and back muscles to work overtime because these muscle groups tie the upper and lower body together. Without strong core muscles’ balancing is much harder.

3. Stronger Muscles and Endurance – Because the ball helps target nearly all muscle groups it helps build strength, tone muscles and improve overall endurance. It also helps strengthen the back alleviating some forms of back pain and helps with over all flexibility.

4. Core Strength – The core muscles include the back and all the abdominals. These are the muscles that support and stabilize the body during all movements. By using the ball all these muscles are worked in all range of motion, ensuring a strong core.

5. Stretching – The ball enables a range of stretching motions that normally aren’t possible.

6. Weight Loss – As with any exercise routine, using a stability ball will increase metabolism which helps burn away excess body fat. This fat burning ability is further enhanced by the lean muscle mass built during exercise.

The stability ball is one of the best ways to strengthen the abdominals and lower back while also improving the functional strength, balance, and flexibility of the body.

Author: Andrew Bicknell

To learn more about how to get 6 pack abs, burning fat, and diet advice please visit the website Killer-Ab-Workout by Clicking Here.

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