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Quickie, daily ab workout?

I'm walking and/or swimming almost daily, but know I should work in some ab stuff. Anyone know of a FREE, quick, daily ab workout that's posted online? Someone suggested beachbody.com, but it's not free.

Thanks!


Mon. May 29, 4:24pm

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Do some Pilates "hundreds", very effective. I dont know of an online spot but ask anyone who does Pilates how to do it, or take a couple of classes to learn the basics.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, 6:21 AM

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Yoga abs

You can also do yoga, there are a lot of yoga routines for the abs that are as effective as pilates -- but they take a lot longer to make a difference.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, 3:22 PM

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Also keep in mind your abs need a day of rest between work just like any other muscle group.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, 6:45 PM

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The zip up. I do this while I'min work becuase I sit at the desk all day.

Start with a kegal squeeze with your pubic floor. squeeze that and continue to hold it whilie you continue to squeeze the rest of your abs, as if your zipping them up. once your abs are fully zipped working from the bottom up, then it's time to unzip them from the top down. Do as man reps as you can.

I love it!!!!

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, 8:10 PM

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My 16-yo son showed me one he calls "bridge." No idea where he got it. Position as if for full men's pushup, except on elbows rather than hands, with forearms resting on floor. Hold. Start with 30 secs rpt 3 times; build up to 2 min rpt 3 times.

I've been using this because, having cracked my tailbone, I can't do Pilates. But I highly recommend the Pilates abs exercises (carefully formed). I used Brooke Siler's _Pilates Body_ (book) and old dance training to get the form right, and my 20-minute routine (using many but not all of Siler's suggested exercises--some are unsafe IMO) I made significant changes in my posture, muscle tone, flexibility, and strength--and enough of a difference in my physical appearance that I got "How have you lost so much weight?" within three weeks.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006, 12:29 AM

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Anything that you do on the ball really works your abs much faster!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007, 2:05 PM

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You can just google for pilates 100 and you should come up with a site that will show you. But they are great and do work. Basically what you do is lay down flat on your back, arms palm down on floor, lift legs up as high as you are comfortable but keep them straight, then pump your arms and legs up and down 100 times. You should feel this in your abs almost immediately.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007, 9:23 PM

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The bridge works your core muscles not just the abs. I have that in one of my workout dvd's.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007, 9:25 PM

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For Pilates '100's which challenges your abs and back in a whole new way, take your legs to a 45-degree angle while pressing your hands up and down.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 4:49 PM

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The Bridge (or The Plank as I've heard it called) is REALLY tough--you'd be surprised how much it takes to do it right for even a short time!

I try to tighten my abs every time I find myself letting "it all hang out"... I also try to stand up straighter--which instantly helps to improve your posture and your abs.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 5:19 PM

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You could always use the Dwight Shrute method - bring a stability ball to work and sit on that all day instead of a regular chair.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 7:39 PM

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7:39....

Haha - the Dwight Shrute method - thanks for the laugh.

I used to work for a big company - they had an issue with sitting on a stability ball because they were worried about liability.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 7:59 PM

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abs

I highly recommend the 12 minute abs workout from the Slim in Six Series. It is only abs. I've been doing it and it is effective.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 2:13 PM

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bodybuilding.com has a lot of ab exercises and you could probably make your own routine out of those suggestions...also if you have cable you can go to ON DEMAND and under the sports and fitness section there is an exercise tv part that has ab workouts and if you have cable ON DEMAND is free

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 12:19 AM

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search on youtube. there's like a million

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 10:30 AM

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best ab exercise

The Floor crunch is a stomach exercise. It is the best exercise to shape the stomach. Doing the crunch regularly 3 to 4 times a week will help you reach your goal

Link

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 2:08 AM

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I was doing a little playing the other night with the "On Demand" option with my digital cable (I have Comcast). There are a ton of workouts and even just quick Ab workouts on there that you can do for free. I tried it out and it was great! If you have Comcast, check it out!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 1:05 PM

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youtube

i started doing the 8 minute abs workout a long time ago. i was INCREDIBLY sore the first few weeks, and saw great results. but i needed variation to increase the workout. but it works great for a quick tone up!

Monday, September 03, 2007, 11:29 AM

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Apparently abdominal muscles need to be "surprised" with new exercises way more frequently than other muscles, so I'm always looking for new moves to switch in and out...

www.self.com/fitness (video as well as pics)
www.fitnessmagazine.com
www.womenshealthmag.com
www.sparkpeople.com (moving pics - cute!)

Monday, September 03, 2007, 11:47 AM

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Sit down and zip up!

Just tried the zip up recommended on 5/30 and I love it!!! I now have great suggestions for ab work to squish in with my early-early AM routine and even one exercise I can do at my desk!
Muchas gracias--Mmmwah!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007, 3:21 PM

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When I was taking kickboxing, the warmup routine included a very effective ab workout.

Assume the normal situp/crunch position (knees at 90 degrees, hands behind ears but not gripping your head, eyes to the ceiling).
Do 10 crunches - only take your shoulder blades off the floor.
On the tenth, hold that "up" position for ten seconds. Don't forget to breathe! Slowly let yourself back down.
Do this three times, then let your knees fall to your left. Both shoulders are still on the ground. Now do the same set of three.
After those thirty, bring your knees back to centre and do another thirty.
After those, let your knees fall to the right and do thirty over there.
Come back to centre and do your final thirty.
STRETCH after!

DON'T expect to be able to do them all the first week! Start with one set for each position and rest when you need to. You'll find you'll quickly gain ability to do more reps and by the end of two weeks you should be able to do the full routine. It shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes for the whole thing!

Good luck!

(I call these "Murray Crunches" because my instructor's name was Murray)

Wednesday, October 03, 2007, 8:44 PM

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EDITING MY ABOVE POST:

When I said "Do this three times" I meant do the set of ten crunches and hold for ten seconds on the last one for three repetitions. Not three crunches of holding for ten seconds. Sorry for the confusion!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007, 8:47 PM

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You can make your crunches work faster by using weights. I do crunches holding a 25lb weight to my chest. This is really effective. And doesn't take so much time. Start with a smaller weight to begin with though.

Thursday, October 04, 2007, 3:51 PM

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