ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET A FLAT BELLY & STRONGER CORE ? ð€
HERE’S YOUR ANSWER WITH THESE Â SIMPLE . QUICK . EFFECTIVE Â
EXERCISES FOR TIGHT ABS! ð
Let the Summer Slimdown Series continue ð . . . we are just a weeks away from summer officially arriving! â±Â If you do these exercises 2 to 3 days a week, YOU will truly see and feel your ab muscles stronger and more toned!  Why have you not seen any changes with your abs? Do you feel like you are missing out on getting results?  I see so many people doing the same ab crunches over and over again and then wonder why they do not see the results of tighter and flatter ab muscles.  YOU must change up your exercises and YOU must challenge your abs to the point on exhaustion! ð
Now before I go any further, there is ONE very important rule that will always keep you from getting those awesome, defined ab muscles, and that is what you put into your mouth!  You can not eat foods that are high calorie, high fat, high sugar and high sodium and expect results, just because you are doing your crunches.  If you eat clean and restrict your diet to lean proteins ð³, fruits ð, vegetables ð and healthy fats ð§Â with LOTS of water ð§, I guarantee that with eating clean and doing the exercises below you will start to see and feel your abs get more toned and tighter! ð
This exercise routine is an excellent supplement to add to your cardio, upper or lower body workout! Â You can add this to the end of your workout, and I would recommend doing this ab workout at least 3 times a week to your regular workouts! â
CHRISTIEâS CORE CRUNCHING WORKOUT
If you have a Bosu Ball, I highly recommend using it for these exercises. Â Not only is it a very effective tool for this workout, but I will be showing you in future blog posts other ways to use the Bosu ball for upper and lower body workouts too. Â You can get the Bosu ball by clicking here (also the Bosu sport ball is quite a bit smaller, so I use the Bosu pro ball) , or use an Exercise ball, and if you are so anxious to get started and do not have either balls, then go ahead and perform these exercises on the ground, or you can even use a rolled up towel for a little bit of elevation too!
Seated Ab Crunch: Place your booty on the top end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly lower than the top) and balance yourself by placing your hands on either side of the ball. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back. Â Start by bringing your knees into your chest, while crunching your ab muscles, and returning to starting position, trying to keep your feet from touching the ground. Â (If using an exercise ball, do 1 leg at a time) This is a very slow and controlled move.
Do: 5 sets of 20 reps (or as I tell my clients, break up the 100 reps anyway you want ð )
Straight Leg V Lift:Â Place your booty on the top end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly lower than the top) and balance yourself by placing your hands on either side of the ball. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back. Â Bend your left knee at 90 degrees and straightened your right leg and flex your foot. Â Slowly elevate your straightened right leg bringing your knee up to your chest level creating a crunching movement. Â Then slowly return leg to starting position by keeping your foot elevated and from touching the ground.
Do: 3 sets of 20 reps on each leg
Elevated Ball Crunch: Place your booty close to the bottom end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly lower than the top) and balance yourself by placing your hands on either side of the ball. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back.  Once you feel balanced,  grab a medicine ball or dumbbell weight and lower your upper body until your are in an incline position.  Slowly crunch forward keeping the medicine ball elevated ( pretend to lift it like you would be placing it on top of a shelf ) then slowly return to starting position.
Do: 3 sets of 20 reps
Ab Cruncher:Â Place your booty close to the bottom end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly lower than the top) and balance yourself by placing your hands on either side of the ball. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back. Once you feel balanced, begin to lower your upper body until your lower back touches the ball, yet keeping your upper back elevated off the ball. Â Place your hands behind your head ( do not pull on head or neck, your hands are only there for support only ) and begin to crunch forward then slowly return to starting position. Â This is a very small and controlled move.
Do:Â 5 sets of 20 reps (or as I tell my clients, break up the 100 reps anyway you want ð )
Side Oblique Crunch:  Place your right hip near the bottom end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly closer to the top) and extend your legs straight where your feet are placed on top of one another.  Balance yourself by placing your right hand on the ball and your left hand on your hip.  Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back. Once you feel balanced, using the strength in your upper body and your oblique muscles ( in case you do not know what these are, it is the muscles on the side of your ab muscles, think muffin top area ð³Â ) slowly raise your right hip off of the ball and then slowly return to the starting position, but do not let your right hip touch the ball until you complete your reps.
Do: 2 sets of 25 reps on each side
Reverse Side Oblique Crunch:  Place your right hip on top  of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly closer to the top) and extend your legs straight where your feet are placed on top of one another. Balance yourself by placing your right hand on the ground and your left hand on your hip. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, but also to protect your lower back. Once you feel balanced, using the strength in your upper body and your oblique muscles ( in case you do not know what these are, it is the muscles on the side of your ab muscles, think muffin top area ð³ ) slowly raise your legs off of the ground, keeping them straight, and then slowly return to the starting position, but do not let your bottom leg touch the ground until you complete your reps.
Do: 2 sets of 15 reps on each side
Opposite Twist Crunch: Â Place your booty close to the bottom end of the Bosu ball (or if using an exercise ball, place it slightly lower than the top) and balance yourself by placing your hands on either side of the ball. Keep your back strong, your core tight the entire time to engage your ab muscles, to protect your lower back. Once you feel balanced, bend your right knee and your left elbow and crunch them together trying to touch your elbow (think of bringing your shoulder towards your knee not your elbow, so you get a good twisting motion) Â to your knee, then slowly return to starting position . When you place your hands behind your head ( do not pull on head or neck, your hands are only there for support only ). Â This is a very small and controlled move.
Do: 3 sets of 25 reps on each side
EQUIPMENT:
PRO BOSU BALL:
“CLICKâ here to purchase, if needed”
EXERCISE BALL:
“CLICK â here to purchase, if needed”
Christie “your personal trainer to Get Fit & Stay Fit”
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This is good and going to try it today… ð
Let me know how you like it, I have found great ab strength with the Bosu Ball.