Bodybuilding Exercises For The Abs

One of the most impressive parts of a bodybuilder's is to get fast abs - the six-pack abs. This area of the body is not talked about as much as some others, when it comes to bodybuilding. The fact of the matter is, though, that the abs are usually the first thing you notice when looking at a bodybuilder on stage. Let's take a closer look at some of the best bodybuilding exercises for building great abs, as well as some things to avoid.

Uncover Your Abs

Many people are of the opinion that hours spent doing crunches and sit-ups are going to give them the ripped, six-pack stomach they've always wanted. It's true that these exercises will increase abdominal strength and define the muscles, but the results will still be disappointing. The reason for this is that ab exercises will not burn fat from your stomach. You can build the most impressive abs ever, but no one will ever see them if you don't take steps to burn the fat also. The only way to do this is by incorporating some cardiovascular training into your bodybuilding exercise routine. This important part of bodybuilding is sometimes ignored by beginners, and this is why they are often disappointed with the results they see. It's not that they aren't working their muscles properly, it's just that there is too much fat covering them.
Abdominal workouts

Now that you're aware of the importance of cardiovascular training, it's time to take a look at some of the best bodybuilding exercises for the abs. There are dozens of exercises that are designed to work the muscle groups in the abdominal area. Many of these also have numerous variations as well. If done correctly and safely, they will build the muscles up and make them more visible, as long as you keep the fat off.

Obviously, one of the first abdominal bodybuilding exercises that most people think of is the crunch. This is one of the most popular and effective ab exercises out there. One reason for this popularity is probably because they're so easy to do. Simply lay on your back on a hard surface with your knees bent. Squeeze the abdominal muscles while lifting your shoulders off of the ground. Slowly lower your shoulders back to the ground and repeat. This is an easy way to start strengthening the abs, especially for beginners. This exercise will focus on the upper abs.

A good bodybuilding exercise for the lower abs is the knee raise. This exercise will also begin with you lying on your back. Keep your hands at your side with your palms on floor. Extend your legs straight out without locking your knees. Then, draw your knees in toward your chest with your lower abdominal muscles. Extend your legs out again and repeat.

For the obliques (also known as the love handles), side leg raises are one of the most effective bodybuilding exercises. For this exercise you will begin by lying on your side with your lower leg bent for support. The upper leg will be extended without locking the knee. This leg will then be raised with the oblique muscles on the side. Lower the leg back down into the starting position and repeat until the set is complete.

These are just a few of the most popular bodybuilding exercises for strengthening the abdominal muscles. Keep in mind that there are many variations to these. As you advance and strengthen these muscles, you can explore the other options that are available and get fast abs at home.