Contrary to what many believe,
abdominal exercise and workouts do not need to be
done in the gym. Your abs don't need to be tormented
through the hi-tech apparatuses or by the squeaky
cable machines. All you need is a level floor.
Start this torture session just as the end credits
begin to roll. A few Sprint, Bell Atlantic, and Burger
King commercials later, Jerry should be starting in
with the monologue that kicks off the ensuing episode.
And by then, your midsection should be burning like
charcoal.
However, the key to making your self-crafted abominal
workout turn your jelly belly into a blazing Eight-pack
is the big 'V'. Variation.
Blending a number of different motions and exercises
with all sorts of variations in motion, speed, and
resistance can shock your midsection into the Ripped
Abs you desire.
Abdominal Exercises - 8 Minutes
Abs Workout
First, wear light clothing that will make you more
agile, allowing your movements to be steady and flowing.
Plop down on the floor and take a deep breath. Prepare
yourself mentally. This abdominal workout will consist
of one long, continuous set with no breaks in between
various movements. Maintaining constant strain on
your abdominals is the key here.
Start with basic crunches. You can
either place your hands behind your head or leave
them by your sides. However, do not pull your head
up with your hands. Bend your knees so that your feet
remain flat on the floor. Slowly allow your shoulders
to raise off the floor without using your back whatsoever.
Begin with 50 slow, strict repetitions before adding
in a twist.
A Russian twist, that is. Raising
your shoulders off the ground, slowly twist your torso
from side to side. You want your right elbow turning
toward your left knee and your left elbow twisting
toward your right knee. These will seriously burn
so try 20 of these with a strict form.
Jump right into leg raises. Extend
your legs in front of you, making sure that your feet
do not touch the floor. You want to start with them
together, about Eight inches off the floor, before
raising them so that your legs form a 45-degree angle.
Feel your rectus abdominis tear throughout the 25
repetitions that you crank out.
Whip right back into a set of crunches. Except this time, try them with your legs straight,
extended flat out across the floor. While you're
doing these crunches, pretend that an imaginary string
is pulling your upper torso off the floor. Make the
50 repetitions flow while the abs grind.
Without hesitation, fling your legs into
the air and take on a set of pikes. Your
arms are out straight, pointing toward the floor,
as you raise your shoulders in an attempt to touch
your toes. All the while, your buttocks are lifting
slightly off the floor. As you lower your shoulders
to the floor, your legs come down again, into a bend
position on the floor. No sooner do they touch that
you're beginning the next repetition and the
motion flows through 25 agonizing reps.
On the last rep, leave your legs straight up in the
air so your toes are pointing toward the ceiling.
Crank out 30 crunches to intensify the burn. If you
face difficulty in maintaining that 90-degree angle
at your hips, slightly lower your legs to the floor.
Then, cut through those abs with some scissors. Lower your legs so that they're 12 inches off
the floor and lock your arms behind your head. Lifting
your right shoulder off the floor, twist your torso
just as your opposite leg - or left knee -
bend into your right elbow. Immediately lower your
knee and shoulder and then twist your left elbow toward
your right knee. Try doing 25 of these before lowering
your shoulders to the mat for the final exercise of
the workout.
This will be another set of 50 basic crunches, just
like the set that you began the workout with. Exercise
slow, strict reps as the burn spreads like wild fire.
The final rep will leave you feeling like you narrowly
escape a blazing building in once piece.
But here's a warning: for the next half-hour,
you may be doubled over, holding onto your tummy,
putting out the flames. And for once, Jerry Seinfeld's
hilarious one-liners will have nothing to do with
it.
