Get Awesome Abs for Summer

No matter how you slice it, today's focus on fit and toned physiques has us all wanting a flat stomach. Not only is a toned tummy a sign of fitness, however, it's also a sign of health. Experts tell us in study after study that excess belly fat is very unhealthy, and can be a precursor to many dreaded diseases.

Whether you want to tone up for summer and look great in a more revealing outfit, or just improve your overall health, working on your core strength and tightening your abs is a great place to start. Along with regular cardiovascular exercise, core strength is a fabulous way to both look great and prevent health problems; a strong torso will help you have good posture and assist with almost any physical task you need to perform.

Following are some tips for how to get a flatter stomach:

    This one's not new: perform crunches! There's a good reason for this common advice, and that is that basic, correctly performed crunches work well. How to perform an ab crunch: You must move slowly and ensure you focus on your abdominal muscles, not letting your back, neck or legs do the work your abs should be doing. Do not let momentum carry you; keep your abs tight and hold a little at the peak of each exercise to get a great squeeze. Breathe out as you get into the hard part and breathe in as you relax again before starting over. Vary your ab exercises to reach all of your muscles, including your obliques, which run along the side of your rib cage. You may wish to initially consult with a local trainer or other expert to ensure you're getting the most out of your ab workouts.

    Use an exercise ball. Also known as a stability ball, exercise balls are a fabulous tool for overall fitness, and especially for ab exercises. They force you to hold your core stable and thus help work all the muscles in and around those you are targeting; not only do you get a more thorough workout but you also strengthen your entire body as a side effect. Many crunch variations can be done with exercise balls, and the range of motion is greater than with a mat or a bench.

    Ad weights to your ab exercises: By using dumbells, wrist weights or even exercise bands, you can add a little more resistance to your crunches, thereby getting better results in less time. Abdominal muscles adjust quickly to change and will cease to respond to the same old routine. Shake things up often for the best results. For more information go here for flat stomach exercises you can do at home