A lot of people believe crunches to be the best form of exercise to get sculpted abs, which is not exactly the case. Without a strong core, you may not get the exact abs you desire, and the core includes not just the abs but also the hips, lower back and glutes. Below are 6 exercises that will strengthen your core and sculpt your abs.
1. Farmer’s walk
The farmer’s walk is quite easy to do and is known to be an extremely effective exercise. Pick up a heavy weight, and carry it on just one side, with a dumbbell or kettlebell held low by the hip at arm’s length. Then, walk as far as you can. Repeat, and switch sides.
2. Side plank
3. Ball slam
4. Bear crawl
To do this, get into a push-up position, and go on your knees, with your hands directly below your shoulders and your palms on the floor. Stretch your arms to lift your body off the ground, and butt high in the air. As you do this, your hands should be a little apart than the shoulder-width.
5. Ball chest press
Stand about four feet from a wall, with your knees bent and a ball held with both hands against your chest. Your elbows should be held out to get into the perfect stance. Tighten your core and throw the ball towards the wall with your elbows straightened. Catch the ball as it bounces off the wall back to you. Repeat.
6. Leg Raise
Lie on the floor with your face up, arms straight, legs bent, and your feet flat on the floor. Maintain a natural curve in your spine and tighten your core as you raise your legs slowly so that your shins are parallel to the floor. Repeat.
To get the best abdominals, it is best to place more focus on the core, and crunches won’t help with that.
image courtesy of: roguefitness.com, archive.spright.com, gethealthyu.com, shape.com, skimble.com, musclestory.net.
