Tummy Toning

Tummy toning muscles, also known as “abs”, is a little more complex than just doing crunches alone. There are many tummy toning muscles with the abdominal region. Each muscle plays a different active role within your muscular system. The abdominal muscles can be broken down into groups of muscles. Some of these muscles groups are known as, the upper abs,lower abs and lastly the muscle groups on the sides of your midriff area are known as the “obliques”. The key to body toning these areas, is in exercising all the muscle groups in the region and not just one or two. Sadly there are few if any exercises that will address all the body toning for the muscle groups in this region at the same time. That being said, finding the right exercise for the specific group that you are trying to target, is essential. Lets look at a few tummy toning exercises that may help you to work toward a more shapely tummy.

Tummy Toning: The Upper Abdominal Muscle Group

One of the best tummy toning ways to isolate your upper abs is to do crunches. That being said, there are many forms of this exercise. Be sure that you are doing these body toning exercises in a safe manner. If you are doing crunches in an unsafe manner, you could risk injury. One common parts that can be injured from the improper use of crunches is lower back. According to some exercise coaches, lying in a supine (face upward) position and resting your lower legs on an elevated surface so that you are in more of a seated position before doing your crunches can go a long way in preventing injuries.

Tummy Toning: The Lower Abdominal Muscle Group

You call them scissors, levers, flutter kicks or “Drill Sergeant, may I have another!” This tummy toning exercise, adopted by some U.S. Special Forces Physical Training Instructors, will not only help you tone your lower abs, it is said by some to “Condition the mind, Sir!” This exercise is truly tough but will help you tone your lower abs. The exercise is performed by laying in the supine position and raising your head and shoulders off the floor, tightening your lower abs the raising your legs out completely straight at about six inches off the floor. After doing this, you then raise your legs, knees straight, to about a forty-five degree angle. Then you alternate raising and lowering each leg as if you were walking briskly with stiff, straight legs. The lower abs are some of the hardest muscles to lose fat from. A good diet will help more than just about any tummy toning exercise in this regard.

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Advanced Tummy Toning: The Oblique Muscle Groups

The tummy toning exercise for the obliques is pretty straight forward. You will want to assume a more traditional crunch or sit-up position. You then place your hands behind your head and neck. Using your obliques, raise your left elbow to your right knee and then down. Then you will want to repeat the motion touching your left knee with your right elbow. Exercising your obliques may just help bring those “love handles” into shape. Tummy toning takes commitment and discipline – don’t give up!