No Special Equipment Needed for the Anti-Flab-Ab Look

Perhaps this question has been burning a hole in your brain--or perhaps not. What’s the best exercise to get your abdominal muscles looking firm, not flabby?

Turns out, according to researchers at San Diego State’s biomechanics laboratory, that it’s not necessarily one of those ab machines you see on television. In fact--and are we really surprised to hear this?--some of the most effective exercises require no special equipment other than a comfortable floor.

According to an article in ACE FitnessMatters, a publication of the American Council of Exercise, the most effective overall exercise for your abs is the old-fashioned “bicycle maneuver” that you see guys at the YMCA doing. That’s the exercise where you lie flat on the floor, put your hands behind your head, and do a bicycle pedaling motion while touching alternate elbows to knees. Of course, it’s a good idea to consult a fitness specialist to make sure you are doing any exercise correctly.