Abs Exercise & Workout Reviews:

We all want perfect abs that are flat and show off like a 6 pack. The problem is, for both men and women, that as we age fatty deposits tend to store themselves right over those once sexy abs you had. Most peoples waist line slowly increases from about college on making our abdominal area the one place we would like to drop some weight. If you work out hard on your abs, there is no guarantee that the fat around your waist will disappear without severe dieting. I've known countless friends and family who religiously do their ab workouts every day and most of the time they do strengthen and tone their abs, but the extra weight around their mid-section is hard to get rid of. You end up with strong abs, but you still have excess fat on top of them. Most bodybuilders will tell you the key to getting ripped abs is to diet and exercise. There are dozens of ab workout machines on the market that claim they will help and many do, but diet is definitely a big factor in getting abdominal muscles that are defined.

---

Abs, unlike most other body parts, can be worked out in your home quite easily. You don't need bulky weight lifting equipment or heavy machines to get in a good ab workout. There are machines like the Ab Slider or the Ab Swing that can facilitate the ab exercise, but you really just need a flat floor to work with. Getting washboard abs is possible, but everyones body is different and we all start with slightly different stomachs. The one thing to remember, even if you don't get the abs you are looking for in the long run, you will probably be a lot healthier and sturdier by doing ab workouts. Ab muscles are the core of your body and they help balance you as well as support your back. Professional athletes work hard on their abs especially in sports like tennis where they are putting constant torque on their backs and side/abdominal muscles everyday. Some of the most common ab exercises are crunches, knee ups, and knee raises. Stomach crunches are the perfect abdominal exercise to start with and you do them by laying flat on your back with your knees bent. Try to lift your shoulders off the floor, but think of getting your ribs to move close to your hips. This will help isolate the stomach muscles in helping to pull your upper body up off the floor. You can vary the workout routine by putting your hands on your chest (easy), hands locked behind your head (harder), or putting your hands out above your head (hardest). The rthythm you are looking for is roughly 2 seconds going up, then hold for 2 seconds and finally 2 seconds going down. If you go slow and keep breathing you can slowly master this exercise. Some people don't like ab crunches and prefer working out their abs with an exercise ball which is a great way to effectively give your abs and lower back a safe workout. Physical therapists have been using stability balls for years and now you see them in all gyms. With any abs exercise, always consult your trainer at the gym or a certified physical therapist to make sure you are doing them right and not actually straining your neck or back.

Best Abs Workout:

There is really such a thing as 8 Minute Abs. It just takes hard work and an ab routine that will leave your abdominal muscles sore. We read opinions both in online bodybuilding forums as well as those posted in general health forums by physical therapists and avid gym goers. The one thing that all those people mention is giving your ab workout "variety" or else you will get bored really fast. It doesn't take 30 minutes or big weight lifting machines to get decent ab muscles, but it does take dedication. As you progess and your abs become stronger, you will find that the crunches are easier to accomplish and moving on to harder exercises will keep you motivated. You can mix up your routine with lying leg raises, cable crunches, side bends, swiss ball crunches, side crunches, hanging leg raises, decline board sit ups, and regular abdominal sit-ups. A great way to keep your ab workout fresh is by investing in a $20 ab workout video that will not only demonstrate how to do all the exercises, but will give you the positive feedback you need. The top ab workout videos can be purchased on sites like Amazon.com. Look for 8 Minutes Abs, Abs of Steel, and Ab Attack. We also recommend shopping at Workoutmusicvideo.com for their wide selection of ab workout videos that will get you those ripped abs you've always wanted.

Top Abs Exercise Machines:

We went to our trusted source online at Trainersecrets.com to find out about ab machines. They are the biggest selling pieces of exercise equipment and unfortunately most go unused after just a few months as owners become disinterested in them. Look for an ab machine that is both comfortable and adjustable. Trainer Secrets looked at roughly 10 ab machines and reviewed them all coming up with some clear winners. The list includes the 8 Minutes Abs Video, Ab Away Pro, Ab Doer, Ab Force, Ab Twister, Ab Slide, Ab Swing, Smart Abs, Torso Track II, and Total Tiger. Most ab exercise machines are well under $100 so price should not enter the equation when deciding what to buy. They chose the Ab Slide as the best ab machine under $25 and the Torso Track II for best ab machine over $25. I have used the Ab Slider a few times at a friends house and it is very effective is used properly. You can really feel the "pull" on your abs and the machine is so small it stores virtually anywhere. Read the instructions first before using. The Torso Track II ($40) is no longer sold in stores, but you can still find them on Ebay. We also visited Fitnessinfomercialreview.com - this site allows consumers to post their own opinions and reviews on exercise equipment found on infomercials. They list dozens of ab products with real consumer reviews to read and get feedback from. Great for honest opinions and quick answers to many frequently asked questions. I would definitely consult my local gym before purchasing any ab machine to find out what they recommend.

Dieting for Flat Abs:

There is a book called the Abs Diet written by David Zinczenko who is Editor in Chief of Men's Health Magazine. The website is located at Absdiet.com. You can read reviews of the book online at Amazon.com and we found the feedback to be extremely positive. The general tips to getting better ab muscles is to eat more fiber, keep carbs between 45-65% of your daily total calories, drink 8 glasses of water per day, keep sodium intake to a minimum, eat light in the evening, and reduce stress. This may not be easy to do, but bodybuilders and weightlifters who have those six pack abs diet hard before a competition so that their abs are pulsing out of their stomachs. The #1 reason why people can't get flat abs is due to diet, or lack thereof. Don't expect flat or ripped abs without some kind of dieting involved.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Cell Phones: - Nokia N91 phone (4GB MP3) - palmOne Treo 650 cell phone/organizer - Cell Phone Free Ringtones Computers and Internet: Discount Computer Memory Upgrades, Best Color Laser Printers, HP Photosmart and Deskjet Printer Reviews - Notebook and Laptop Buying Guide - Domain Name Registration Software: Download Adobe Acrobat PDF files - Adaware Anti Spyware Remover - Pop-up Blocking, Removing and Stopping pop up ads - Adobe Photoshop Tips and Tutorials - Microsoft Small Business Accounting

Audio/Video Electronics: Sony Portable Playstation PSP Buying Advice - What is Tivo and how does it work? - DirecTV - Sony Wega LCD TVs Digital Cameras and Photos: - Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT DSLR - Nikon D50 Digital SLR - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Sharing Digital Photos - Digital Camcorder Formats MP3 Music, Players, Speakers: - Best Headphones and Popular Earphones Rankings - Cambridge Soundworks PlayDock MP3 Speakers - Free MP3 Music Downloads New iPod nano

Internet Guides: Health - Obesity - Diabetes - Plastic Surgery - Treatment for Depression Finance - Car Insurance Quotes - Mortgage Payment Calculator - Debt Consolidation Best Pet Supplies, Jewelry, Most Popular Travel and Hotels, Vacation Guides, New York Sight Seeing, Hybrid Cars, Handbags and Purses Cars and Automobiles Sports and Outdoors Household/DIY/Tools