The sun is out, shining hotter than ever, and we all know what it calls for a beach trip! And if you’re just like us, we already have a complete wardrobe of swimwear ready to be packed. There’s just one thing you may also be vying for – a toned bikini body.
With that in mind, we compiled some of the best ab exercises you can do at the gym or at home. Read on to get started on your summer body goals!
Raised Leg Crunches
This workout is perfect for targeting your middle and lower abs! Start by lying on your back, then raising your legs, slowly bending your knees to 90 degrees. Put your hands behind your head and crunch forward slowly as you pulse your upper body towards your knees. Remember to keep your back flat on the floor, your chin high, and your shoulder blades off the ground. Repeat this exercise 30 times for three sets.
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Hardstyle Plank
Still, nothing beats a plank in toning and engaging your entire core. Here’s how to do it:
Prop yourself into a forearm plank position while lying face down on the ground. Ensure that your elbows are parallel with your shoulders while you keep your fists strong. Hold this position for 10 to 20 seconds and repeat it for two sets.
If you find planks challenging, you can make it easier by squeezing your entire body. This includes squeezing your quads, glutes, core, back, and fists as tight as possible while breathing through your diaphragm. Of course, do your best to hold the position – planks get easier over time, don’t worry!
Ab Rollout
This exercise targets your core, upper and lower back, and shoulder muscles, which helps lengthen your midsection and improve strength. However, the ab rollout requires equipment like a loaded barbell or an exercise ball.
To get started on this workout, kneel and place your hands shoulder-width apart on an exercise ball or barbell. Then, extend your hips towards the floor and lower your chest forward to the ground. Avoid arching your lower back as you move your arms over your head. Lastly, squeeze your muscles before resetting to the first position. Do this for 15 to 20 reps in sets of two or four.
Dumbbell Side Bend
Like the ab rollout, the dumbbell side bend also requires equipment. In this case, you’ll need a medium-weight dumbbell that you’ll use alternately between your arms.
Starting with your right arm, hold the dumbbell with your palm facing inwards towards your body. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and keep your back straight as you engage your core muscles. Bend to the side until you reach your waist, hold for one second, and then return to the first position. Repeat this for 12 to 20 reps to complete a set, then repeat it for your left arm.
Jackknife Push-ups
Jackknife push-ups effectively target your core, arms, and leg muscles, making for a comprehensive workout! Do a push-up on a BOSU ball with your arms shoulder-width apart. As you power up, spread your feet, then bring them back together as you descend. Do this for 30 seconds, repeating for three sets.
Cheat Your Way With MMS
Now, let’s go to the real reason you are reading this post! The perfect complementing treatment to your gym workouts, Magnetic Muscle Sculpting uses the latest Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) to improve the tone of treated muscles. It directly activates motor neurons which results in the contraction of the muscle or a group of muscles. And while FMS-induced muscle stimulation can be used for preventing muscle atrophy, in an aesthetic setting, Functional Magnetic Stimulation can be used to sculpt and define abdominal muscles to accelerate the creation of a sixpack!
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