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Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi
providing you don't have alot of fat around your stomach.
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Aha! The catch! Damn you love handles!!!
Anyway, I'm gonna be pedantic here as it is my field of expertise so to speak!! :P
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Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi
LEG CURL:
This works the bottom part of your stomach. Really easy. Lie on your back, arms to the side palms down. Bring your legs up so that the shins are paralell to the floor and at a right angle. You should look like you're sitting down albiet it horizontally. Now all you do is bring your knees forward as close to your stomach as you can get then back out to the parallel position.
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This isn't entirely correct, and I do apologise again for being picky! This exercise won't actually work your abs. The leg curl, or reverse crunch as it's also known will actually hit the hip flexors with very little ab involvement. In order to contract the abs, there has to be a shortening of the thoracic trunk, that is, the hips need to come closer to the shoulders. Although this does occur a small amount with this exercise, the movement is started using the hip flexors and thus by the time the rectus abdominus is recruited there is too much momentum in the movement to cause any significant effect on the abs. The crunch is the most effective ab exercise and is the only direct work that is needed, along with side crunches, or some variation in order to hit the obliques. I would suggest performing 3-4 sets of 10 reps, and if it becomes too easy hold a small weight on your chest or behind your head whilst you do them. Sorry to be in there Jimmy
Also, for anybody who's feeling daring, weighted squats and pull ups are probably the best exercises for hitting the abs indirectly and will provide a good full body workout at the same time.