Many people that want to work on their abs and get in shape believe the best method of accomplishing this is through ab crunches. There is some truth to this theory but the answer to a sexy six pack far surpasses just traditional ab crunches. The truth is that crunches are fantastic tools to define and tone those abdominal muscles but these crunches should be incorporated in with other exercises so that your workout is not only healthier but also so it targets the entire muscle group more effectively.

There are many ab exercises, however, we will go over some of the best ab exercises to date within this article. One way that these exercises have evolved is via the exercise ball. This is a big ball that is used in exercise that really works the abdominal muscles while relying on the ab crunch. With the exercise ball you will lie on it with the arch of your back centered on it. Place your arms either across the chest or behind the back. The goal is to stay balanced which forces you to use those abdominal muscles to do so. The end result is that you are actually working the muscle group as a whole and this is much more effective.

A more advanced method of using the exercise ball is simply a different placement of your arms. Rather than place them across the chest or behind the back you would extend your arms straight behind your head. This method works even more muscles although it is a bit harder.

The reverse crunch is another very effective exercise for the abs. Here you will lie flat and bend and bring in your knees towards your chest as opposed to raising your stomach off of the floor. This exercise forces the use of the abs to do the work instead of your legs. Full vertical crunches are another very effective choice for a great abdominal workout because it really works both the upper and lower ab muscles. Lie flat on the floor and lift your legs so that your heels face the ceiling. Put your hands behind your head and lift your shoulder blades. The idea is to almost place yourself into the shape of a “u” while you raise the torso and stretch your legs upward.

In addition to the ab crunches you should also incorporate a few other exercises into your workout regimen. The bicycle exercise is very effective on the  rectus abdominis muscles which is a good thing since these are the exact muscles that will give you that sexy six pack and tone waist. Lay flat, place your arms behind your head, bring your knees in towards your chest, lift the shoulders off the floor and straighten one leg while turning the opposite side so that you are attempting to touch your elbow with your knee. Do this for both sides and alternate with repetitions of 2 to 16.

Other exercises that work as well are the  captain’s chair leg raise and the ab rocker. Putting together a regimen that utilizes these exercises is the right way to get your abs in shape and to see the results that you have been looking for.

Flat stomachs, ripped abs, the sexy six pack…this is a priority for many, men and women alike. While many people strive to accomplish this goal the truth is that a lot of people go about it the wrong way. If you start a workout and feel the results from it, it is not alright to just continue on at that pace because your body will get accustomed to that workout and stop building muscle mass. Of course, it is always advised to start any exercise routine slowly and to pace yourself but you do need to increase the intensity as you move along.

You do not want to overdo it but increase the pace steadily and gradually and change your ab workout routine on a regular basis. Let's say that you begin walking as your choice for a cardio workout. Perhaps you begin walking a mile but in time you are going to have to increase that mile to two miles, then three, etc. This is the only way that the body will respond positively. Instead of increasing the distance that you walk you could also opt to start jogging or speed walking. The same concept must be used with an abdominal exercise workout routine. If you start off with ab crunches then continue to increase the number of crunches that you do so your body responds the way that you want it to. This is how you get an effective and well rounded workout.

People also sometimes do not perform their exercises the right way. What happens is that some will be attempting to target their abs but instead discover that they are working the muscles in their legs instead. Or, sometimes people will use the muscles in their necks which results in nothing more than an achy neck. Ideally, you want to feel the burning sensation in your abdominal muscles because this is how you know the exercise is working. One simple test is to put your hand on your tummy while you are exercising and you should be able to feel your muscles tighten as you continue exercising. You should always pull your muscles in when you are doing the exercises. This is helpful also in making sure that you don't hurt yourself and it also reinforces what you are doing.

It is imperative that you always protect your back from injury when you are exercising and you can do this by avoiding exercises that require a lot of bending or rounding of the back.  Even ab crunches, while still thought of as a very effective and useful exercise are now done quite differently. The crunches will still target the abs quite nicely but lessen your chances of injury. If you pay attention to the real possibility of injury and simply avoid unnecessary risks your workout will be twice as effective. Plus when you follow these simple guidelines and increase your resistance and the intensity of your workout you will find that you will soon be sporting that fabulous six pack that you have waited so long for.