My abs are getting a little flabby--best way to get a 4 pack?

Question

I don't want a six pack because that's kind of odd for a girl, but I want really toned abs. For the past two weeks I've been doing 3 sets of 25 crunches along with other exercises for other body parts, but what are some other ab workouts I can do? And please don't just give me links unless you've actually tried those exercises. Thanks in advance!!

I play tennis every day for two hours at least.

Answer 1

Well, it's cool that you play tennis! That's an excellent form of cardio...I love tennis too--but can't find a partner...:0( Anyhow, as for your abs...I lost 40lbs., in addition to getting those sleek abs I've always desired by following this plan:

Ab exercises won't necessarily reduce fat over the abs. We can't spot reduce fat from different areas of the body with specific exercises, although that doesn't mean you can't lose fat from the abdominal area. That can happen if you reduce your overall body fat, although your genes will determine where the fat comes off. The following steps will help you get started:
1.) Regular cardio exercise, do 30 minutes to one hour (preferably) a day of an aerobic exercise to get your heart rate up, so your body can burn fat.
2.) Strength training for your entire body 1-3 non-consecutive days a week. Try reading, “Total Body Strength for Beginners” at: http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners...
3.) A healthy low-calorie diet. This is a very critical part of your program. To make it work you really should:
A. Keep a food log in which you write down everything you eat or drink.
B. Use a food calculator to determine about how many calories you eat each day.
4.) Begin changing bad habits by replacing them, one by one, with healthier choices (fruits and veggies will fill you up and give you nutrients and fiber).
5.) Keep an eye on your portion sizes.
6.) Make small changes every day instead of changing everything at once.
*This is my favorite site for abs...Pics included to guide you:
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/fitness/c...

Answer 2

the only way to do that is by lowering your body fat percentage which you achieve by doing cardio 4-6 times a week for average of 45min - cardio is the only fat burning exercise and we cant spot reduce body fat, and you have to follow healthy diet of fresh, unprocessed foods in small meals every 2-3 hours (thats 5-6 small meals a day)

Answer 3

in the experience that your toned already it probably has not something to do with your nutrients habitual. in step with probability you ought to accomplish a little crunches and take a seat ups. on occasion abs do not run in peoples families, and what i recommend via it is it extremely is greater durable to acquire them than different persons if no one on your loved ones has ever quite had them. Abs basically tutor in case you have below approximately 23% physique fat. you will possibly be able to desire to verify what your % of physique fat is and artwork from there.

Answer 4

heres 17 great exercises to do i do them every day when I can!!!! Its from a sports medicine site and once you do them every day for about 3 weeks you can really notice a difference

1. Bicycle Maneuver
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingers on the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Bring your knees up to about a 45-degree angle and slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion.

2. Captain's Chair
This exercise requires gym equipment.
Start with legs dangling and slowly lift your knees in toward your chest.
The motion should be controlled and deliberate as you bring your knees up and return them back to the starting position.

3. Crunch on an Exercise Ball
Sit on the exercise ball with your feet flat on the floor.
Let the ball roll back slowly and lie back until your thighs and torso are parallel with the floor.
Contract your abdominals raising your torso to no more than 45 degrees.
To work the oblique muscles, make the exercise less stable by moving your feet closer together.

4. Basic Crunch
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.
Tip: Don't clasp your fingers behind your head. Don’t tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

5. Half Curl
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your palms on your thighs and curl up until your fingertips reach your knees as you breathe out. Return to the start position.
Tip: Don’t tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

6. Vertical Leg Crunch
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears. [il] Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Extend your legs straight up in the air, crossed at the ankles with a slight bend in the knee.
Contract your abdominal muscles by lifting your torso toward your knees.
Make sure to keep your chin off your chest with each contraction.
Exhale as you contract upward; inhale as you return to the starting

7. Reverse Crunch
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Crossing your feet at the ankles, lift your feet off the ground to the point where your knees create a 90-degree angle.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Your hips will slightly rotate and your legs will reach towards the ceiling with each contraction.
Exhale as you contract; inhale as you return to the starting position

8. Alternating ‘Supermans’
Lie face down on a mat with your arms stretched above your head (like superman)
Raise your right arm and left leg about 5-6 inches off the ground (or as far as you comfortably can).
Hold for 3 seconds and relax.
Repeat with the opposite arm and leg.

9. Plank
Lie face down on a mat with your elbows right next to your chest, palms facing down.
Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and elbows with palms flat, back flat angling up from toes to shoulders.
Hold abdominals tight, and keep your spine neutral.
Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air.
Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, and then lower; repeat.

10. Crossover crunches
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Cross your right leg over your left leg so your right ankle is resting on your left knee.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Begin a crunch, but twist your torso and touch your left elbow to your right knee.
Return to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching over to the other side.

11. Side Bends
Holding a dumbbell in you right hand, stand with feet shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent.
Place your left hand behind your head and slowly bend sideways to your right lowering the dumbbell down to your knee.
Return to an upright position and repeat for the desired number of reps.

12. Medicine Ball Sit Ups
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Hold a medicine ball (choose a 5 pound ball to begin) to your chest and have a partner stand at your feet (not on them).
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
As you curl up throw the ball to your partner. Hold the crunch as your partner catches the ball and throws it back to you.
Catch the ball and slowly return to the start position.
Tip: Don't sit right the way up as you wait for the return pass.
Your shoulders should be no more than 6 inches off the floor.

13. Oblique Crunches
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Slowly drop your legs to the left and let your knees rest near the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.
Repeat for the desired number of reps and switch to the other side.

14. Seated Oblique Twists with Medicine Ball
Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Hold a medicine with both hands directly out in front of you, twist to your right and place the ball on the ground behind you.
Quickly, but smoothly, turn to your left to retrieve the ball and repeat for the desired number of reps.
Repeat the process for the left side.
Tip: if you have a training partner, sit back to back and pass the medicine to each other.

15. Weighted Curls with Medicine Ball or Weight Plate
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Hold a medicine ball or weight plate to your chest (start with 5 pounds).
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up just enough to lift both your shoulders off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.

16. Cable Crunches
This exercise requires a triceps pushdown machine with a rope attachment.
Kneel down in font of the machine holding the rope just above your head.
Slowly crunch down to your right knee and hold for 2 seconds as you breathe out.
Return to the start position slowly and repeat to the left knee.

17. Weighted Oblique Crunches
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Hold a medicine ball or weight plate to your chest, (5 pounds to start).
Slowly drop your legs to the left and let your knees rest near the floor.
Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears.
Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold.
Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches.
Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position.
Repeat for the desired number of reps and switch to the other side.

Good luck and I hope this helped :)