Don't Skip Your Abs!

Skipping the abs is a common workout problem. It's not that people want to neglect them but it happens due to a lack of time and energy.

First, abs are worked out last because we need core stability for other exercises. Our abs need to be at their best to perform other exercises to their full potential. Most people stick core exercises at the end of their workout, which is the proper and correct thing to do. However, when you find that you are skipping them due to a lack of time or energy, it's time to make a new plan.

Five Tips for Guaranteed Ab Workouts

1. Perform a lot of compound exercises that recruit the core. Some examples would be lunges with a triceps overhead extension, chin ups + knee raises, push ups + planks and squats + shoulder press.

2. As mentioned in my ab interval article, do your abs in between sets. Since you don't want to fatigue your abs before the end, do more isolated exercises in this workout such as bicep curls and leg extensions.

3. Have an ab day. A good three day a week schedule can be upper body, lower body and abs. You could stick the ab day on to a busy day or combined with cardio because you only need about 10-15 minutes to properly work them to fatigue.

4. Work your abs wherever you go. Sometimes when I'm bored waiting in line or for the subway I do "ab rolls." I try to isolate each ab individually and roll it forward, back and side to side. Once you become body aware and are able to isolate your abs you can work them out anywhere. Even flexing and releasing works very well. These moves are very useful at the office!

5. Remember that you use your abs a lot! Anything from walking, cycling, carrying groceries and even cleaning your house uses core muscles to make it happen. So if you feel like your ab routine is falling behind, it's probably not!

Keep in mind that you should also be throwing in some lower back exercises in to your ab workouts to balance the core. Alternating back extension and stability ball back extensions are easy and effective low back exercises that will prevent back pain and balance your core routines.

Work Those Abs!

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