Abdominal Exercises with Resistance

[kimmy0169]

Can anyone advise how the home excerciser can add resistance to abdominal exercises safely and effectively.

Thanks!

 

[WD]

You might try the wood chops that are on Kick Punch & Crunch and Super Sets. Also the medicine ball is used in bootcamp and muscle endurance. I hold a weight on my chest for most of my crunches. You have to be very careful with this as you can add stress to your neck.
Diane Sue

 

[Carol_is_fit]

Yep. What Diane Sue said. Hold a light medicine ball or dumbell across your chest while doing crunches. Also, try simply varying the exercises you do. I think Cathe posted once here about changing the variety of abdominal exercises to make them more effective overall? I might be wrong, but I think others have also posted that doing a variety of different exercises in the same session is more effective than doing say, 100 crunches. Hope this helps!

Carol

 

[kathryn]

I sometimes use a 2# (usually) or 3# med ball when doing stability ball crunches or other ab exercises. I don't go any heavier on the weights, as I don't want to develop bulky, bulging abs. I see the added weight as more of a challenge for the core (which has to stabilize against this added resistance) rather than a way of developing the abs (which, again, I don't want).

 

[kimmy0169]

Thanks for the info. I typically hold a dumbbell on my chest for crunches, but I didn't know what to do for reverse crunches as I do not have a medicine ball. To be honest with you, I really do not want to purchase another piece of equipment. I, too as not looking to develop my abs, just add a little resistance.

 

[WD]

For reverse crunches you can hold a dumb bell between your knees with your feet crossed at the ankles. You can also use light ankle weights.
Diane Sue