According to some estimates, the typical American guy spends about 56 hours every week sitting down. This can contribute to a lot of medical conditions, including decreased agility, inflexibility, and back pain.
Add in the love of potato chips and beer, and you’re going to have some problems with your abs. With the best ab workouts for men below, you can really work your core; which in turn strengthens you and gives you sexier abs.
Getting into the Best Ab Workouts for Men
So what are the best ab workouts for men anyway?
They may differ for each guy, but experts agree that the following exercises are good for your abdomen:
- Swiss Ball Rollout. Kneel on a mat, while you place your hands on a Swiss stability ball in front of you. Roll the ball forward as far as you can, while you keep your abs engaged and with your back straight. Then slowly return to your original position. Do two sets of ten rollouts each. This exercise is quite safe and easy on your lower back, compared to other similar exercises. By staying on one plane, you focus on the rectus abdominis. If you want, you can also work your obliques by rolling out to the left and then to the right.
- Cross Crunch. Obviously, any effective ab program at some point will have to involve crunches. In this version, you lie back with your arms and legs diagonally stretched. They should form a big X. Keep them straight and lift your head, neck and shoulders as you bring the right hand and left foot together, then do that for the other hand and foot. That’s one rep. Now do 10 to complete one set. The nice thing about this workout is that it’s simple, and you don’t need any fancy equipment. It’s also quite safe. By coming at an angle, you’re working your rectus abdominis and your obliques. You also work on your lower abs when you lift your legs off the floor.
- Bicycle crunch. This exercise combines the regular crunch, the reverse crunch that works on the lower abs, and the side to side movement that works on the obliques. Start by lying on your back with your hands behind your head, but don’t interlace your fingers. Your legs should be raised and bent. Now move your right elbow and left knee toward each other while you straighten your leg without letting it touch the ground. Your lower back should be pressed into the mat, and your abs should tighten as you raise your head, neck and shoulders for this move. Hold the crunch for a couple of counts, then do the other elbow and knee. Move continuously as if you’re riding a bike.
It’s important that you get quality nutrition and don’t stick to just one type of ab exercise. If you insist on doing just crunches or sit ups for your workout, your body will just quickly adapt to the stresses, which will then reduce the exercise’s effect on your muscles. If you want the best ab workouts for men, put in some variety. This will stimulate your muscles continuously and will result in muscle growth.