Most Effective Ab Exercises 2

Captain's Chair Leg Raise

Paige Waehner

The captain's chair leg raise is the second most effective move for the rectus abdominis as well as the obliques. You can do a variety of exercises on the captain's chair, which is a rack with padded arms that allows your legs to hang free and can be found in most health clubs and gyms. The key to keeping this move safe and effective is, first, to avoid swinging the legs or using momentum to bring the legs up. Second, keeping the knees bent will help you focus more on the abdominals and less on the hip flexors. How to:

1. Stand on the chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body.
2. Press your back against the pad and contract the abs to raise the legs and lift knees towards your chest.
3. Don't arch the back or swing the legs up.
4. Slowly lower back down and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.

If you don't have access to a captain's chair rack, you can try a ball roll out as a substitute.

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Most Effective Ab Exercises

Bicycle Exercise

Bicycle Exercise for Abs

Paige Waehner

Want to know the most effective ab exercises? The American Council on Exercise found out just which exercises target the abs in the most effective way in an ACE-commissioned study.
It's important to remember that, while ab exercises won't get rid of fat from the belly, a strong core is important for keeping your body healthy and protecting your spine.
The most effective ab exercises start with the bicycle, which is the best move for targeting the rectus abdominis (i.e., the 'six pack') and the obliques (the waist), according to the study.
Most Effective Ab Exercise: Bicycle

1. Lie face up on your mat and place your hands behind your head, lightly supporting it with your fingers.
2. Bring the knees in to the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the floor without pulling on the neck.
3. Rotate to the left, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee as you straighten the other leg.
4. Switch sides, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.
5. Continue alternating sides in a 'pedaling' motion for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.

View this video for more detailed instructions.
If you have difficulty with this move, you can try a modified version.

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Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

The Bowflex PR1000 home gym is a great way to strengthen your muscles and add a bit of cardio training to the mix with over 30 strength exercises and a built-in rowing station. With up to 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance, this versatile machine helps work the abs, arms, chest, back, shoulders, and lower body. It includes triple-function hand grips for lat pull-down, a horizontal bench press, and four-inch upholstered roller cushions for leg extension and leg curl exercises. The rowing machine rail also folds when you're done with your workout.

The PR1000 utilizes Bowflex's patented Power Rods, which provide resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights--but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 pounds of resistance.


View Products Details
They're precisely manufactured from a high-tech composite material under the highest quality control measures, then sheathed and tested 4 separate times to ensure quality and durability. The Power Rod units are so strong, you can flex them repeatedly but you won't be able to wear them out.
Features and Specifications:

• Sliding Seat Rail adds aerobic rowing training for calorie-burning, cardiovascular warm-up and cool-down (also great for leg presses and seated leg extensions)
  
• Multi-use Hand-Grip/Ankle Cuffs designed to add flexibility and performance to any workout
• Workout Placard displays workout descriptions for easy reference while you're exercising
• Number of available exercises: 30+
• Height: 81 inches (205 cm)
• Length: 84 inches (213 cm)
• Width: 38 inches (97 cm)
• Minimum Workout Area: 100 by 78 inches (254 x 199 cm)
• Maximum User Weight: 300 pounds (136 kg)
• 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance
• Four-inch upholstered roller cushions for leg extension and leg curl
• Horizontal bench press
• Triple function hand grips for lat pull down
• Built-in cardio rowing machine
• Folds for easy storage
• Cannot be upgraded to 310lbs

Exercises:

Bench Press Decline Bench Press Incline Bench Press Seated Shoulder Press Front Shoulder Raise Crossover Seated Rear Delt Rows Scapular Retraction Narrow Pulldowns Stiff-Arm Pulldowns

Seated Lat Rows Reverse Grip Pulldown Seated Low Back Extension Triceps Pushdown Triceps Extension Standing Biceps Curl Wrist Curl Seated (Resisted) Abdominal Crunch

Trunk Rotation Leg Extension Calf Raise Seated Hip Adduction Seated Hip Abduction Leg Kickback Leg Press

Manufacturer's Warranty
Frame - one year; Rods - five years; Parts - 60 days

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