How to Tone your Abs Without Doing Situps

Want the bad news about crunches? While doing crunches can help tone your abdominal muscles, as a stand alone exercise option, it will not flatten your belly. Torching abdominal fat requires more than just crunches.

In fact, you need to live a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fat-burning exercises to achieve that flat belly because most of the time, the reason why your tummy area might not be as toned as you'd like, if because you're carrying a layer of fat tissue above the muscles below.

So even though all those abdominal crunches you're doing are certainly strengthening and toning your stomach muscles, no one will see them because they're hidden.

• The Key to a Flat, Toned Stomach
• Lunge with a Press
• Dumbbell Curl to Squat to Press
• Dumbbell Pushup Row
• Cross-Behind Lunges
• Dip with a Kick
• Wall Slide
• Planking Frog Tucks
• Resistance Band Bent-Over Row

The Key to a Flat, Toned Stomach:

If you want to trim down in the tummy area and have the area look a little more toned and defined, you can rest easy knowing that you can lighten up on the number of crunches you're doing and instead, work on a balanced overall fat burning exercise routine.

Lunge with a Press:

Stand with your left foot in front of your right. Your right hand should be holding one dumbbell at shoulder height. Place your weight in your front heel as you bend your knees and lower yourself into a lunge. Press up to a standing position, extend your right arm and press the dumbbell overhead. Do several repetitions in 25 seconds before switching sides, and doing it all over again.

Dumbbell Curl to Squat to Press:

Hold a pair of dumbbells and allow them to hang to your sides at arm’s length, with your palms facing forward. Bend your elbows as you keep your upper arms still and curl the dumbbells as close to the shoulders as you can. Push your hips back, and start lowering your body into a squat. Stand up and press the dumbbells overhead to complete one repetition. Go back to the starting position, and repeat.

Dumbbell Pushup Row:

Position a pair of dumbbells on the floor, about shoulder-width apart. Grab the dumbbells and do a pushup position. Lower your body to the floor and press yourself back up. Once you are back in the starting position, slowly pull the dumbbell in one hand up to the side of your chest.

Hold it for a while before returning to the starting position, and repeating the movement with your left hand to complete one repetition. Prevent your torso from rotating every time you row the dumbbell.

Cross-Behind Lunges:

Grab one dumbbell in each hand and hold them at your sides at arm’s length, with your palms facing each other. Step forward, and then to the side, so your lead foot is positioned in front of your back foot like a curtsy. Start lowering your body until your front knee is at a 90-degree angle. Hold it for a while before returning to the starting position. Repeat with your other leg.

Dip with a Kick:

Grab a sturdy chair and sit on the edge with your hands grasping the seat. Lower your body by sliding your butt off the chair, with your elbows bent, until your upper arms are almost parallel to the floor. Keep your body stable as you press up and extend one leg, Perform the next repetition with your other leg.

Wall Slide:

Stand with your head, butt, and upper back against the wall. Place your arms and hands in a high-five position against the wall. Make sure your elbows are bent 90 degrees, with your upper arms at shoulder height.

Prevent your body from losing contact with the wall. Hold this position for a while before sliding your elbows down toward your sides. Keep your wrists, elbows, and hands pressing against the wall during the movement, and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Slide your arms up the wall again, and repeat the movement.

Planking Frog Tucks:

Start in a pushup position. Keep your body straight, from your shoulders to the ankles. Move your right foot forward, and position it as close to your right hand as you can. Prevent your hips from rising or sagging throughout this exercise. Return to the starting position, and repeat with your left leg to complete one repetition.

Resistance Band Bent-Over Row:

Step on a resistance band with one foot. You can use both feet for added resistance. Hold the band in both hands at arm’s length, and shoulder-width apart. Lower your torso until it is parallel to the floor. Bend at your hips and squeeze your shoulders together as you pull the band close to your upper abs. Hold this position for a second, and return to the starting position.

These are just some of the best ab workouts that do not require crunches or situps. You can do this several times a week for as many reps as you can. Make sure to maintain proper posture throughout your workout session to prevent any injuries. You will be surprised at how far you have gone after doing this regularly for several weeks.