CUT 'EM Up

INCREDIBLE ABS. Rock-hard obliques. A midsection that draws gasps. It can be yours, but of course there’s a price to pay, in time and effort. The great thing about exercising your abs and obliques is that no matter what the ultimate goal, each and every repetition helps to trim the fat, and for a man, whose fat tends to gathers around the belly, that’s a vital health benefit. The following stomach-toning workout utilizes a Swiss ball, which forces you to balance correctly for each maneuver, contracting the abs hard. Try it, you’ll see

 

 

 

OBLIQUES
Arm Swings
Lie with your upper back on the ball, hands clasped with arms extended straight up and legs bent at 90-degree angles. Proceed to swing arms to the right until parallel to the ground. Pause, then return to starting position and next swing arms to the left. Perform 15 alternating repetitions to each side.

HIPS, KNEES & THIGHS
Hip Raises
Lie face up with hands on hips, legs bent and the back against the ball. Proceed to raise hips until the upper body and thighs align. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.

ARMS & OBLIQUES
Arm Raises
Support yourself face down with legs on the ball and arms straight. Proceed to raise the left arm, feeling the left side of the abs contract. Pause, then return to starting position and next raise the right arm. Perform 15 alternating
repetitions with each arm.

ABDOMINALS
Forward Rolls
Kneeling a few feet from the ball, clasp hands and place forearms on the ball. Beginning with legs bent at a 90-degree angle, proceed to slowly roll forward until upper body and thighs are almost but not quite aligned. Then bring knees forward to the starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.

ABDOMINALS
Balance Crunches
Lie with your back on the ball, hands behind head and legs bent at 90-degree angles. Proceed to raise the upper body a few inches. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.

ABDOMINALS
Reverse Leg Lifts
Reverse Leg Lifts
Lie face down with the ball in the middle of your body. With forearms balancing your upper body, palms down, proceed to lift legs off the ground. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 15 repetitions.