Not to bore you with the fancy words but there is quite a lot of muscle action going on in your tummy with the Rectus abdominis, Internal and External obliques and the Transverse abdominis.

I'm saying this because you need to hit as many areas as possible to really appreciate the benefits that you will eventually see and feel.

Well here we are progressing our Ab Attack from the Basic Sit Ups. How did you get on? Hopefully you are improving and now can manage the target 20 reps in one set... right?

Now everyone is different, we are all different shapes and sizes, have different lifestyles and work commitments, some of us love the gym & some hate it, some of us have time and some of us feel we don't.

Do all men want to look like Arnie? I think not.

Do most women want to be top Olympic athletes like GB's very own Kelly Holmes - Again I think not but I'm sure we all admire the effort that Athletes put in and the fitness levels in which they achieve.

So dare I say most women would like to tone up a little and lose some weight (ooh watch all those letters come flooding in now)... well like I said at the beginning the diet has just as much to do with it as does the training.

In simple basic terms think calories in, calories out.

The Second Ab Attack Exercise.

1Side Plank

Lie on your side propped up on one elbow with your forearm flat against the floor as support.
Place one foot on top of the other so both legs are together and straight in line with your pelvis, back and shoulders.

• Your whole body is now side on to the floor and firm like a plank.
• Now lift your hip off the floor and keep your balance.
• Raise & stretch your free arm upwards and look towards this hand.
• Hold this position for 10 seconds.
• Take a 10 second rest and straight away repeat on the other side fighting gravity with your hips all the time.

When you can easily hold my side plank position for a minimum of 45 seconds without your hips falling back towards the floor then you are ready to move on to the progression.

Progression.

2

Keeping the original side plank position, hips raised body in alignment and a small tuck in the tummy with arm raised upwards and above head.

Now simply raise the top leg keeping it straight in line with your top hip.
Try not to roll backwards or forwards & really hold tight with your tummy muscles keeping your whole body firm and in alignment.

Hold this position for 10 seconds then change to the other side.

This is a great exercise for the core as we are fighting gravity and working on stabilisation as well as strengthening your supporting arm and working the abductors in the thigh.

This exercise can be for any fitness level and as you improve you can extend the time.

Just remember a healthy body means a longer happier healthier life.

Good luck and keep checking in for more Ab Attach exercises.

Lee