Getting lean abs is no easy task, and despite what all those ridiculous late night infomercials tell you, it really requires a combination of a lean and veggie-filled diet with a serious committeemen to a variety of exercises that target not only the abdomen area, but also the areas around the abdomen. You’ve probably done a few crunches in your day, and I get you hated doing them with every heave! Guess what, me too! There’s nothing I hate more than doing crunches, so I went on the hunt for a series of different ab exercises that I thought were more creative and would be more effective in getting me that flat stomach I so desired for the summer season.

The first thing to know about working out your abdomen, is that you can’t really achieve that hot flat little stomach you so desperately want without straightening your back. Don’t go cross-eyed on my, it’s true! I’ve been undergoing some serious physiotherapy for some lower back issues, and as me and my physiotherapist worked through the rehabilitation process, I discovered that as my strengthened, my stomach began to look a little sleeker, a little sexier! So the secret is attacking the problem from both sides!

If you’re trying to get rock hard abs, you have to look at your abdomen in sections; the upper abs, the lower abs and the all important obliques. It’ll be up to you as to how you want to work these out as in, are you going to want to work them all out in the same sitting, or do you want to break it up over several work-outs.  For upper abs, I love working with the exercise ball.  It’s important to make sure it’s inflated to the correct size so you don’t injure yourself, or go through a workout without actually accomplishing. An exercise ball provides much needed support for your back and spine, support that you won’t get from laying on a hard floor.

When you’re working your upper abs, I’ve yet to find a regime that is as effective as Pilates. Pilates strengthens and lengthens muscles and promotes correct breathing all the while, ensuring that oxygen and blood is flowing fluidly. If you’re working your obliques, there are hundreds of exercises that are effective in creating that carved look including bicycle crunches. I’ve you’ve done any full body workouts like P90X or Beachbody, you’ve been introduced to a series of exercises that work the the obliques. There are also several exercises that work out the abs as a complete muscle group like ab “planks” rather than just in parts. It’s a good idea to mix it up so you don’t end up looking lop-sided!

The key to a strong, flat belly, is to mix up your regime. Eat right and work out. It’s not like you need an online degree to figure it out, it’s simple, just remember that variety is the spice of life!