Beach season is nearly upon us, which means you may be making extra efforts to slim down, tone your muscles, and work towards some killer abs to show off in the sunshine. In case you’re getting sick of basic crunches and long planks, we spoke to personal trainer Jonathan Ramos to discover some of the best workout methods for tighter abs.
Ramos points out that in order to achieve visible abs, you’ll have to do more than just work your abdominal muscles—it’s also important to lose fat through cardio: “I’d like to be clear that visible abs are only possible via a low percentage of body fat,” he says. You can find some of the best forms of cardio for fat loss here.
In addition to cardio, though, there are several ab exercises you can choose from to work those muscles and unlock your six-pack. “In my experience, the exercises that show the best results allow the body to fully extend the abdominal muscles before contracting them,” Ramos tells us. “These include hanging leg raises, reverse crunches, and v-ups.” Learn more about each of these below!
READ MORE: How Much Cardio Do You Need Every Day To Lose Weight? We Asked A Personal Trainer.
1. Hanging leg raises
Ab workouts can be more than just crunches! If you have access to a pull-up bar, Ramos says that hanging leg raises is one great exercise to try to get those abdominal muscles tight. According to Healthline, this method is especially effective when it comes to targeting your rectus abdominis and external oblique.
Ramos told us how it’s done:
1. Hanging from a pull-up bar, allow for your legs to extend toward the ground.
2. Raise your knees as high up towards your chest as possible.
3. For an extra kick, you can attempt to touch your knees to your elbows.
READ MORE: The 2-In-1 Exercises Trainers Swear By For Getting Rid Of Stubborn Stomach Fat Faster
2. Reverse crunches
If you really want to get your six-pack going, Ramos says you should consider doing some reverse crunches. These work your entire rectus abdominis muscle—so you’ll really be feeling the burn in your lower abs.
Here are Ramos’s instructions:
1. Lay on your back.
2. Extend your arms behind you and legs in front of you.
3. In one movement, drive your legs towards your chest as you lift your body to meet your knees.
3. V-ups
V-ups are a great workout that target your rectus abdominus, your obliques, and your hip flexors. That’s why Ramos says that incorporating them into your workout routine is one of the best ways to get defined, tight abs.
Here’s how he says it’s done:
1. Extend arms behind you and legs in front of you.
2. Keeping the legs as straight as possible, lift your arms and legs, forming a V with your body.
3. You can also attempt to touch your toes with your hands.
READ MORE: 3 Arm Exercises To Try This Spring
The bottom line
Ultimately, while regularly doing ab exercises is one great way to make the most out of your workout and get as fit as possible, none of these methods are going to work miracles immediately. Achieving the body of your dreams will take time and effort. It’s also important to remember that maintaining a healthy diet in order to lose fat is another crucial part of getting toned abs. (You can find some of the best foods to blast fat here.) But when it comes to the best exercises around that will get you one step closer, you can’t go wrong with his recommendations.
