4 Simple Ab Workouts for Beginners

Ab workouts can prove too difficult for most people when they are just starting out on the road to fitness. However, this does not mean all abdominal exercises are off limits just because of that. There are several ab exercises that are strongly recommended by trainers and fitness experts. Perhaps, the routines these fitness professionals often use to introduce a novice to the world of fitness and health. These exercises generate a fair amount of abdominal activity yet not enough to leave an individual debilitated by aches and pains after doing them. Thus, these ab exercises are some of the best warm-up exercises for beginners which can help them with the more advanced ones later down the road. Mentioned below are four simple ab routines novices can participate in. Each of these ab workouts should be done for at least 10 repetitions and gradually increased over time.

Side Bend

First up is the side bend abs exercise. The side bend is best done with the added weight of a dumbbell in one hand. Simply stand with your feet apart (about as far apart as the width of your shoulders, to be precise) and put the hand not holding the dumbbell on your hip. With your right hand holding the dumbbell, bend towards your right as though you are trying to touch the floor with the dumbbell. Straighten your body, switch the dumbbell to the other hand, and repeat the same exercise. Rinse and repeat as often as you can.

Modified Crunch

The crunch modified with an exercise ball is another one of the popular ab workouts. Lie on your back and bend your knees at an angle that permits you to keep your feet on the floor. Take the exercise ball and hold it up while keeping your arms extended straight. Start curling yourself up slowly and act as though you are trying to push the exercise ball straight towards the ceiling. The exercise ball gives you the benefit of added resistance and makes the exercise more effective. As a result, it is important to consistently modify your exercise routines to maximize the benefits.

Leg Raises and Reverse Crunch

Third on the ab workouts list would be classic leg raises. Starting out on your back again, put both hands under your tailbone to support it and raise your legs from the floor at an elevation of about 3 inches or so. This is your starting position for the real leg raise, which you should achieve from this 3-inch floating mark to a higher elevation of about 2 feet. Each elevation’s retraction is to the 3-inch mark, from which you should perform all the repetitions.

Finally, we have the reverse crunch as one of the best beginner ab workouts. For a reverse crunch, you need to be on your back with your knees all the way up to your chest and your hands by your sides. Extend your legs so they are off the ground and then pull them in towards your chest. Each time you do a rep try to hold the drawn-up position for a moment before you extend again.

These ab workouts are just a few of the possible ones that beginners may try. A good rule is to consult a personal trainer or friend who works in the fitness industry for recommendations regarding the workouts you should start out with. Once you master these ab workouts, feel free to add more to your toolbox for much needed variation.