If you're like us, there's probably one area you feel like you can't work enough: your abs. More specifically, your lower abs. It seems like no matter how much training you do, they just stay the same. Well there’s a reason for that.
“In order to lose weight and show muscle definition, you need to train the whole body, says Amanda Butler, certified trainer and instructor at The Fhitting Room in New York City. [You need] to expend calories—and pair that with a well-balanced diet.” Maybe you've heard the best abs are made in the kitchen?
But that's not a pass to skip those crunches and planks. “It is important to train the core because that is your center for balance,” Butler says. “Plus, a strong core can help reduce back pain.”
Not sure exactly how to hit those lower belly muscles? You’re not alone. “Lower abs are very difficult to strengthen because that is where our body stores most of its excess fat,” says Butler. “And for women, the hormone estrogen naturally wants to hold onto fat in this area.”
In order to eliminate the guesswork, we asked Butler to share the most effective lower abs exercises as a workout. For three of these moves, you'll need towels or sliders.
Use towels in place of sliders
Don’t blame us if it hurts to laugh the day after this routine.
The Workout
Perform each exercise for 30 seconds with 10 seconds of rest between moves. Complete the entire circuit 1 to 3 times.
1. Heel Tap
Lie faceup, hands under your butt, knees bent, feet lifted into table top position. Slowly lower your flexed feet forward until your heels barely touch the ground. Squeeze your abdominals to help raise your feet back up to table top.
2. Mountain Climber
From a high plank position, with your body straight and hips level, lift right foot and draw right knee to chest between your hands. As you return right leg to plank, lift left foot and draw left knee to chest between your hands. Continue to alternate as quickly as possible, keeping your core tight and without hiking your hips.
3. Scissor
Lie faceup, hands behind your head, lifting head and shoulders off the floor. Using your abdominals, lift legs slightly off the ground and scissor kick, alternating one up and one down. Focus on not straining your neck or jutting your chin forward.
4. Slider Pike
You'll need sliders or towels to pull off this move.
Start in high plank position with both feet on sliders. Squeeze low abs and pull feet toward your hands, lifting your hips toward the ceiling into a pike position. Slowly push feet out to lower into starting position.
Make it easier: Perform sliding mountain climbers, moving one leg forward at a time.
5. Straight Leg Raise
From a faceup position on the floor, place hands under your low back and brace your core. Lift straight legs slowly off the ground, bringing them to 90-degrees, then slowly lower them back to the ground. If you have any pain in your lower back, do not do this move.
Pull-Up Bar Variation
If you're prone to low back pain or have access to a pull-up bar, try this variation instead. Holding a pull-up bar, brace your core and lift your legs off the ground to hip height. Beginners can bend their knees, or you can keep your legs straight (hinging only a the hip) for more of a challenge. Slowly lower the legs to start position.
6. Cross Body Climber
From a high plank position with your body straight, hips level, and core braced, lift right leg and draw right knee toward left elbow. As you return right leg to plank, lift left leg and draw left knee toward right elbow. Continue to alternate.
7. Slider Knee Tuck
You'll need sliders or towels for this move.
From a high plank position with both feet on sliders, brace core and pull both feet in toward your chest. Focus on not letting your shoulders hunch and not allowing your upper body to lean forward too much. Push feet back to return to high plank starting position.
Stability Ball Variation
If you have a stability ball handy, try this variation instead: Start in plank position with feet on a stability ball. Keeping core engaged, draw both knees in toward your chest, then slowly extend legs back out to starting position.
8. Rolling Plank
Start in low plank position on forearms. Hold for 10 seconds, then roll on to your right elbow, stacking feet, and hold side plank for 10 seconds, engaging your obliques. Roll back through center and over to the left elbow, stacking feet, and hold 10 seconds. Continue to alternate, keeping core engaged and not letting your hips drop.
9. Roll Up
Lie faceup, with legs extended, knees together, feet flexed, arms overhead. Take a big inhale. As you exhale, lift arms up and forward, and use your abs to slowly roll up to a sitting position. Squeezing abs again, slowly lower down to starting position.
10. Jack Knife
Lie faceup, legs extended, feet together, arms extended overhead. Inhale, and as you exhale, squeeze abs and raise right arm and left leg, touching hand to foot. Inhale and slowly lower to starting position. Repeat for 15 seconds, then switch sides for 15 seconds.
Source: http://greatist.com/move/best-exercises-lower-abs
Image: wikimedia.org