Every man and woman I know is constantly searching for ways to flatten and tone their stomachs. They do outrageous stomach exercises that would make contortionists blush, only to have that little bulge protruding out of your tightest shirt or hanging below your hottest beach trunks.

{This requires incredible stomach muscles, but this isn’t the way to get them!}

There’s a reason why exercises for stomach muscles don’t work—your stomach is not a muscle! Keep reading to find out which exercises for stomach muscles really work!

Stomach Anatomy

Before you can learn which exercises for stomach muscles will actually work, you need to know what you’re working out. What we call stomach muscles is really our abdominals and core.

Exercises for stomach muscles—which is actually part of your digestive tract–will help you pass gas, but they will not give you a flatter, toned tummy. What you really want to do in terms of exercises for stomach muscles is work your core and abdominal region.

By working your abdominal muscles and core you can have a fully toned abdomen that looks good from all angles. An added bonus is that exercises for stomach muscles that work the entire region give you muscles without lower back pain.

Running

Running is one of the best exercises for stomach muscles because it helps you burn lots of calories, which is key to having a spectacular mid-section. Running burns anywhere from 500 to more than 1,100 calories per hour depending on your running speed, and although all that fat won’t come from your stomach, this is an exercise that will work well for stomach muscles.

Since there are no “stomach exercises” per se, exercises for stomach muscles will include activities like running that require you to keep your core contracted just to keep you balanced. This is yet another way in which running helps build abdominal muscles.

Kickboxing/Martial Arts

Remember a few years ago when TaeBo was all the rage? Well dust off those tapes and reintroduce Billy Blanks to your world because kickboxing and martial arts are great exercises for stomach muscles. The movements required during kickboxing—pulling down your arms and kicking motions—work your abdominal muscles.

Because kickboxing and martial arts requires you to keep your abs tightened, they are excellent exercises for stomach muscles. Kickboxing and martial arts combine a mixture of aerobic and resistance exercises that are perfect for lean & toned stomach muscles. Kickboxing or martial arts are great exercises for stomach muscles because they eliminate abdominal exercise boredom while giving you a rigorous workout that requires…tight abdominal muscles!

Bike Crunches

Yes, crunches can be boring and sometimes uncomfortable, but they can also be truly effective exercises for stomach muscles. Bike crunches specifically are great for the entire abdominal region because they employ the core and abdomen to complete each crunch.

When you complete bike crunches your lower body is riding a bike while your upper body is performing exercises for stomach muscles! Its one great exercise that does double duty, working both the upper and lower abdominal muscles. The side to side motion required of Bike Crunches makes sure your oblique abs are getting sufficiently worked out as well!

Here are a few 5 minute abdominal exercises!

Baseball/Softball

When you’re looking for exercises for stomach muscles but you don’t want to spend all day doing boring abdominal exercises, consider a few innings of baseball or softball.

The motions involved in baseball & softball—pitching, hitting and throwing—will help improve your core muscles. Baseball is a good way to have fun while still exercising stomach muscles. When you factor in the running involved in baseball and softball, you can see why baseball and softball are effective exercises for stomach muscles.

Each step of play in baseball and softball in some way works your abs and core muscles. When you pitch, hit or throw the ball you should keep your core tight for maximum effectiveness. This will give your muscles a workout through each inning. Baseball and softball are great exercises for oblique stomach muscles, and the longer you play the harder your midsection will be worked!

Everything Else

There are plenty of exercises for stomach muscles that don’t require you to lie on your back and strain your neck, but those neck-straining abdominal exercises do work effectively. When you enjoy a sport or a simple walk, keep your abs tightened so they’re always getting worked.
Remember that a well-balanced diet is also part of the flat stomach equation. There are other lifestyle habits you can change to help you burn belly fat.

Read our Truth About Six Pack Abs review so you can find out why your six pack quest has been an ongoing journey!

When it comes to getting the six pack abs you’ve always wanted, we here at TFLA try to give you as many exercise options as possible. The same old crunches and leg lifts can only take you so far before boredom sets in. Today, we’ve come up with a few sports that, when done correctly, are the perfect six pack abs exercises.

{Killer abs like these require a lot of work and loads of laps!}

Keep reading to find out which sport will help you get the six pack abs that’ll make others green with envy!

Yoga

Forget what you think you know about yoga and keep an open mind because yoga is a great six pack abs exercise that helps give you a strong core. The static poses and focus on bodyweight exercises and breathing helps give you a solid foundation to begin giving your abs a hardcore six pack abs workout!

Six pack abs exercises like mountain tilts and the triangle pose are great yoga exercises that strengthen the core and abdominals. Even if you feel that yoga is too calm and relaxing for an effective six pack abs exercise; give it a try. If you don’t love it, there are dozens of other sports you can do for six pack abs!

Skiing

Skiing is a great activity that gives your abs a good workout. Specifically cross-country skiing is a great cardio exercise, but it also an amazing six pack abs exercise. The up and down motions made by your arms and twisting torso strengthen your abdominal muscles as you work to made yourself glide over the snow.

Cross country skiing is a great full body workout as well because the cardio aspect burns hundreds of calories per hour. Don’t take my word for it though; see how sore your abs feel after a day of cross country skiing as your six pack abs exercises.

Kayaking/Rowing

Water seems to provide an ideal environment for six pack abs exercises. Everyone is well aware how effective swimming is for strengthening abdominal muscles, but other water sports like rowing and kayaking have proven highly effective six pack abs exercises.

The rotation of the abs in kayaking provides plenty of exercise for toning the obliques, which is an important part of six pack abs exercises. The power required to paddle a kayak strengthens abs as well as core strength.

Rowing requires your body to perform different motions, but rowing is another activity that helps you achieve six pack abs. Rowing tightens abdominal muscles and strengthens the core by performing a constant rowing motion. Machines at your local gym, called rowing machines, are an effective alternative for six pack abs exercises.

Soccer

One look at David Beckham and there can be no doubt that playing soccer will suffice for six pack abs exercises. Besides all the running that soccer involves (futbol for my non-American friends!), heading a ball and quick changes of directions are all signs of a powerful core and well-sculpted six pack abs.

{He doesn’t believe a lot of factual things, but he does believe that soccer is a great six pack abs exercise!}

Running and kicking simultaneously while changing the direction of the ball gives you six pack abs exercises that’ll leave you sore in the morning. Even recreational soccer players like you and I can get a good round of six pack abs exercises by participating in a game of soccer.

Running/Sprinting

Whether you like to run at a moderate pace or sprint like the wind, these are both incredibly effective methods of performing six pack abs exercises. The pumping motion of the arms during running or sprinting works the oblique muscles while the bending motion of the hips works the lower abdominals and core.

Running or sprinting is a superb form of cardio exercise that has the added benefit of burning and strengthening your core. When you don’t have time to alternate between strength training and cardio workouts, choose a long run or an effective sprint to get six pack abs exercises and a full cardio workout!

These are just a few sports that can help you achieve six pack abs. Alternate between traditional abdominal exercises and six pack abs exercises and activities for a well-rounded abdominal workout. Don’t forget the importance of a healthy & well-balanced diet to achieving six pack abs.

Wanna learn more about achieving that elusive six pack? Read our The Truth About Six Pack Abs review…it’ll change how you work your abs!

Quick, name the three most watched TV shows in Canada currently:

#3 Law and Order

#2 So You Think You Can Dance

#1 So You Think You Can Dance

And no, it’s not a misprint.
Source: http://www.bbm.ca/en/nat08032009.pdf

Yes, it’s the summer season and there isn’t much on the tube. And yes, everyone’s favorite sitcoms will be back in the fall so the list above could look remarkably different. But people like, really like watching dance shows!

[No dumbbells required! Mastering their own body weight is what produces the lean and sleek look of these artists.]

The entertainment production value of these shows, sprinkled with a little reality TV for good measure, really helps in attracting viewership. Choreographed routines combined with matching outfits makes the viewer feel like they are watching a rock show in a big city arena.

Who am I kidding?

Women, and men, are watching these lean cut bodies pulsating and gyrating to different musical stylings because they are aesthetically pleasing!

While the external physical benefits of dancing are apparent, the internal benefits are just as impressive. Dancing has been proven to get your heart rate up while strengthening your core and leg muscles at the same time.

In addition, various web sites have reported on different dance styles burning an average of 400 calories per hour!

Now I’ll admit, I’ve seen So You Think You Can Dance a handful of times and what amazes me the most is the wide range of movement that’s required to pull off some of these routines.

Similar to gymnasts, dancers rarely touch a dumbbell and instead concentrate on moving their own body weight to glide and spring off the dance floor.

Unfortunately the research on dancing and weight loss benefits was surprisingly thin? The more interesting studies I found centered around the video game Dance Dance Revolution (the cool kids call it DDR).

In one study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin, had 24 male and female subjects play the video game Dance Dance Revolution. They measured the amount of calories the subjects burned and reported that the adults in the study burned about 10 calories per minute, or the equivalent of 300 calories per 30 minutes when on the difficult mode.

Even researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota stuck their nose into the realm of “exergaming” with results showing children who played DDR expended significantly more energy than children watching television and playing traditional video games.

[Talk about working your core and leg muscles young man. I would've tripped and crashed into the entertainment unit 30 seconds in.]

Given the above findings for a video game, I think we can safely translate similar benefits and results in more social settings like a dance class, a wedding or nightclub (provided you aren’t cradling a double rum cocktail at 2:00am).

Now I’m no professional but I’ve been known to bust a move or two on occasion (backyard BBQs included).

So I’ll let you in on one of my favorite dance secrets along with a quick breakdown of dance class options from a female friend of mine who happens to moonlight as a dance instructor.

You Got The Rhythm

Some of us have rhythm, and others… not so much. If your in the latter group there is hope.

Start by clapping out simple beats and counting in your head. After monitoring the rhythm this way, translate the clapping and counting into movement. Stay loose and keep your lower body and upper body moving together.

Don’t stress about technical perfection because we’re living in the moment and there is no trophies at the end of the night. The goal is to reduce self consciousness and anxiety to the point where you feel comfortable.

Just Dance

Depending on your musical taste, you’ll enjoy some dance movements and classes more than others.

“If you like rhythm, put on some tap shoes. If you like So You Think You Can Dance and popular MTV video type moves, take a jazz class. Ballet class can help if you’re having back problems, due to its emphasis on posture.”

“Whatever style you choose, try to relax and trust the instructor. If you are leaving each class and realizing you had a good time, then mission accomplished.”  – Female Friend

Life provides us with so few opportunities to let loose and dance. Besides the obvious health benefits, your social life and self confidence will get a major boost. So step outside the shell and live it up, your body and mind will thank you for it!