Steel Stomach!
6 Drills to Get Ripped
by Wayne Levitt, C.S.C.S.
Photography by Cory Sorensen
Sit-ups and crunches; crunches and sit-ups. The one-two of abdominal exercises. And you know what? If you can manage to do hundreds of repetitions of each three or four times a week you'll earn yourself an impressive set of stomach muscles. Trouble is, not many men have the discipline to keep doing the same exercise over and over again. While we certainly don't advise banishing sit-ups and crunches altogether, we do favor variety.
So without further delay, presenting 6 new and different abdominal- and oblique- toning maneuvers. Some are variations of standard sit-ups and crunches, while others contract the midsection from unique angles. Some are easy, some are hard. Try all of them and determine which ones are workable for you. While it would be great if all men could and would perform all the exercises, let's get real. The important thing is to set aside the time (30 minutes) to work your abs at least two or three times a week.
OBLIQUES
Seated Twists
Sit on the ground with legs bent and hands behind head. Proceed to twist to the right, extending elbow to knee. Pause, then return to starting position and next twist to the left, again extending elbow to knee. Perform 10 alternating twists to each side.
OBLIQUES
Standing Torso Twists
Stand with legs shoulder-width apart, arms bent in front of you with fists together. Proceed to twist to the right. Pause, then return to starting position and next twist to the left. Perform 10 alternating twists to each side.
ABDOMINALS
Side Leg Extensions
Lie on your left side, leg over leg, with the left arm extended out, palm down, and the right hand on the right thigh. Proceed to extend the right leg out until legs are at a 90-degree angle. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 10 repetitions, then turn over for another set working the left leg.
OBLIQUES
Seated Extensions
Sit on the ground with legs apart and straight out, hands between them. Proceed to bend at the waist and extend the left hand to the right foot. Pause, then return to starting position and next extend the right hand to the left foot. Perform 10 alternating repetitions to each foot.
OBLIQUES
Side Leg Raises
Lie on your left side, leg over leg, and extend up, supported by the left arm. Proceed to raise the right leg up as high as possible. Pause, then lower to starting position. Perform 10 repetitions, then turn on your right side for another set with the left leg rising.
ABDOMINALS
Crunch Pull-ins
Sit on the ground with hands behind head, the upper body raised and legs raised and bent, one foot over the other. Proceed to extend elbows to knees. Pause, then return to starting position. Perform 10 repetitions.