Seeking the best Ab workout that can be done at home

[Royltnxile]

What is a good ab workout routine that can be done at home without machines that will obtain results quickly? I'm a 39 year old man wanting to tone and trim my gut before boating season. I'm losing weight but really need to target my middle.

Anyone have any recommendations?

[healinginnyc81]

the best workouts I use are:
1) crunches with books or any other relatively heavy object that you can easily hold on your chest. You lie flat on your back with legs straight out and hold the books with both hands on your chest. Bring your upper body up and bring your legs up by bending your knees and bringing your knees to meet your chest(the books). Hold for a second and then go back to the start. It's a tougher workout if you don't ever let your legs drop back on the ground. Other tips:Elbows slightly away from the body, keep your neck and back straight throughout the movement, suck in your stomach throughout, go up quickly but down slowly. Do three sets of as many reps as you can or do three sets of 10. Resting just long enough between sets for your breathing to go back to normal.
2) leg lift and twist: Lay on your back with your hands under your butt. Raise both your legs straight up toward the ceiling at a 90 degree angle to your body. Don't bend your knees but don't lock them either. Then lift your butt off the floor and twist your hips to one side. Bring your legs back down to a couple of inches off the floor then repeat but twist to the other side. It makes it tougher if you keep your stomach sucked in throughout. Do three sets of 10 or as many as you can.
3) figure 8's. Similar to leg lift and twist but lift legs straight up then draw a large figure sideways figure eight with your legs. Don't bring your legs down to rest at all, just keep drawing figure eights until you can't do any more. Do three sets.
4) touch your toes. Lay flat on your back with legs straight and arms extended above your head. Lift your legs and upper body a few inches off the ground. This is the starting position. Now lift your legs to a 90 degree angle from the ground and at the same time lift your upper body and arms to meet them, try to touch your toes. Go back to starting position - don't touch the ground with your upper body or legs. Repeat as many times as you can. Do three sets.

This is the workout I used to do and my abs were well defined, I used to always get compliments. I haven't done it in three years but I started again a couple of weeks ago and I can see my abs already starting to get back their definition. Good luck. There's some new ones I have started using and I'll post them later when I have time, but I'm not sure if they're as good because I just started on them.

[healinginnyc81]

PS. I wanted to add that you also should do cardio to burn fat because the ab exercises won't help you to burn the fat from your mid section.

[RayKay]

I recommend you get a fitness ball, a medium sized one, as they can really add to your core workout. They are a decent price too.

Then I suggest you develop some timed ab workouts...ie 30-1 minute sets on a series of exercises that you do straight, rest for 2 minutes then repeat 1-2 times. Entire workout would then take you 20-45 minutes.

Here are some basic exercises, though it is very hard to describe them all over here, so contact me for more explanation!:

Front Plank
Side Planks
Leg Raises
Oblique Crunches
Kneeling on ball (progress to standing over time!)
Crunches (on ball or without)
Hamstring curls with ball
Hunting dog
Ski jumpers
Back Bridge
V-Sits (these burn!)
Knees to Chest (with ball)
Back extensions (on ball)
Wide armed pushups (with ball or not).

If you have access to a chin up bar/universal you can also do other ab twists and leg lifts while suspended which are pretty effective.

Note these will all make your core stronger and build ab muscles, but that will do little good if you are not burning the fat that hides them as well! In fact it can just make your tummy look bigger!