how do i tone my abs?

Question

when ever i do crunches/sit ups, my back hurts really badly and it never really shows if i continue

Answer 1

1) Bicycle
The bicycle was ranked as the best ab exercise by the Amercian Council on Exercise because it uses every muscle in your abs to create a strong, lean torso. Make sure you pull your abs in (draw your navel towards your spine) and keep them contracted throughout the movement to protect your back. Don't hold your breath and go slowly so you can really feel it! Do 10-16 reps.
More: Best Ab Exercises
2) The Plank
The plank is another great exercise that challenges your Transverse Abdominis as well as the muscles of your back. You can do this move on your elbows or on your hands. Position yourself as though you're about to do a pushup and hold that pose, making sure your body is in one long, straight line from head to toes. Don't let your belly sag and keep your neck straight. Hold as long as you can!
More: Core Strength
3) Crunches on the Ball
Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that using an exercise ball provides for a very challenging ab workout. Instead of doing crunches on the floor, lie on an exercise ball. You'll challenge your abs in a whole new way while also working other muscles in your body like your legs and butt. Make sure you don't pull on your neck and roll forward a bit if the move is too difficult.
More: Ball Crunch
4) Reverse Crunch
The reverse crunch is great for working your obliques and it helps you target the lower portion of your abs as well. There are many ways to do reverse crunches, but one of the best is to put an exercise ball under your knees. Make sure you contract your abs and use them to lift your hips off the floor. It's a very small movement and you shouldn't swing or use momentum.
More: Reverse Crunch
5) Ab Slide
This exercise also challenges the abs in a different way, but it's an advanced exercise so pay close attention to your back. The movement involves rolling or sliding your hands out, using your abs and back to keep your body straight and then contracting them to pull back in. You can use anything from a Torso Track or Ab Wheel to a couple of pieces of cardboard for this movement.
More: Ab Slide

Answer 2

The Abs are not only a huge muscle with many components but it is hard to just effectively tone the abs alone. You need to work almost the whole body. Cardio is important because a lot of times if you just work the abs you will form muscle under a layer a fat and that is not effective. Besides crunches, and sit ups there bicycles and side bends and squats will help work the lower stomach. When I was having back neck problems I used the Ab lounge. I am big into fitness and the Abs are one muscle that working them every day is a good thing. The Ab lounge did really help to eleviate the back issues. Now that I go to the gym every day I use the Ab machine that totally takes all pressure off my back because you are in the seated postion and use your abs to move the weight.

Answer 3

#1 Find the diet that works for your body-type. High carbs vs. high protein vs. 30-30-40 etc....

#2 Cardio excercise

#3 No sit-ups/crunches if your back is hurting (in excess of just typical muscle fatigue). However, there are a million ab excercises out there - you'll have to discover which ones don't hurt you on your own... sorry.

Remember, you can't "spot" train. All of the ab work in the world won't help if you eat candy or burgers all day and don't do a lick of cardio. Burn the calories. Eat the right type of foods then worry about shaping the abs. It'll happen soon enough.

Good luck.

Answer 4

crunches/sit ups is good, also leg raises too. There's a saying 'pain is a sensation and sensations are pleasurable!' even thought it may ache or hurt it's prob because your body isn't use to it, do it on a regular basis and the aches and pains will begin to go.

Answer 5

get a work out machine go to the gym do sit ups and crunches on a soft surface

Answer 6

I could opt for toned abs... Definitely a healthful mirrored image of well being & health :) ...For thin abs, it relies I wager.. I may not wish such thin abs however then, I am anguish from bulimia... *Peace*

Answer 7

No matter how hard I try, I cannot tone my abs. I finally learned to love my body. I think its really just genes. When you got them, you got them. Pilates is a great way to tone up overall.