What is a good exercise for toning up your stomach and lower back area?

Question

I would like to tone up my lower back and stomach area but am having troubles finding exercises to do! I do run for about an hour 3 or 4 times a week but its not helping to tone up that area. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I'm a fitness instructor and would just like to say that doing sit ups to get a toned stomach is a myth!!! the best way to tone up your stomach and lower back is doing a combination of cardio work and weight training!!!joining a gym is your best bet, they can write you out a personalised program to fit all your needs, its also worth looking into personal training!!!!

Answer 2

I think investing in a fitness ball is a good way of promoting good posture and can be used to help you strengthen your lumbar region. Sit ups and ab crunches are also good. I've also heard belly dancing is good for toning up the abdominal and stomach area. It's also very sensual and gives hubby something interesting and fun to watch too.

Answer 3

try a reverse crunch * STEP 1: Realize that reverse crunches work the lower portion of your abdominals, while regular crunches work the upper part. * STEP 2: Start by lying on your back with your legs perpendicular to the ground, knees very slightly bent and feet in the air, crossed at the ankles. * STEP 3: Keep your arms on the floor next to you or place them comfortably behind your head. * STEP 4: Rest your head on the floor, relax your shoulders and keep your back straight. * STEP 5: Slowly lift your hips 1 to 2 inches off the floor, which will raise your legs and feet a few inches higher. Avoid rolling your hips backward and thus bending your back. * STEP 6: Hold this position for just a moment. Squeeze your abdominal muscles and keep your head and shoulders flat against the floor. * STEP 7: Slowly lower your hips back to the floor.

Answer 4

Yoga and pilates are great for toning up your stomach and strengthening your back, they're actually great for toning all over.
I do really like trampolining though, it seems like a nice easy excercise but works wonders on your lower body, works better on legs and bums though but could be worth a try.

Answer 5

Sit ups. Lots of them. Morning and evening. Start with a set of 50. When you can do 50 with ease, then 2 sets of 50. Then 3 and so on. Do this everyday, and in a couple of months you will have abs to die for!

Answer 6

Crunches. Crunches are like sit-ups, but you don't need anybody to hold down your ankles/ feet. Crunches work your abs better than sit-ups. To do a crunch, you lie on the floor and lift your head and upper body just like doing a sit-up. But since nobody is there to hold your feet, you lift your feet up slightly and bring them to your butt by bending your knees. You do this at the same time that you lift your head and upper body. Repeat the motion keeping it synchronized. Good luck.

Answer 7

if u go to the gym get a barbell and do some straight leg deadlifts. ur forearms will probably give first, so hold with a under-over grip. keeping ur legs straight, not completly locked. hold the barbell, which is on the floor with weight, and stand up. this will work ur hamstrings, butt, and ur entire back. do 12 reps for 3sets. also do jackknife sit ups for ur abs. 20-25 reps. this will definately give u a hot body.

Answer 8

sit ups and leg raisers holding the legs a inch from touching the floor for as long as you can while on your back.for lower back bending with twist while legs straight touching toes on opposite foot while standing. these are hard exercises but thats why they work so well.

Answer 9

lots of crunches not full sit ups just place your legs up on a chair in your house while laying down on your back and come up half way and go back down but don't let your shoulder touch the floor and don't place your hands behind your neck

Answer 10

pilates. You can take classes at a club or at a private pilates studio or you can do what I do and just get some dvd's and a mat and do it in my living room. Your abs and back will look awesome!