Even though many people try very hard to get picture perfect abs by performing sit-ups and other forms of abdominal exercise, their exercise technique may cause their abs to remain round instead of becoming flat. This frustrates a lot of people who start a workout routine and don't see dramatic results after the first couple of months.

You need to understand, when doing an abdominal exercise, is not what exercises to do, but how they do them. Many people simply go through the motions when doing sit-ups and other ab exercise, and increase the number of reps over time and notice little difference. In order to get your stomach to be truly flat, you must train your muscles to assume this shape. To achieve flat abs, you must tighten your stomach muscles while doing your ab workout. Before you begin doing this ab exercise, suck your stomach in as if you were tucking in your shirt and tighten your stomach muscles. Continue to keep your muscles tight through all your reps. If you do this, you should feel a lot more burn in your abs than if you were to do the same workout routine without tightening your abs. By keeping your muscles tight and pulled in when you perform an ab exercise, you exercise for them to remain in that state instead of being strong but unshaped.

A lot of people will continue the same exercise routine for their abs over a long period of time and will notice some improvement in their abs, but this progress will level off as the muscles that are being worked get in shape. To have sculpted abs, a variety of abdominal exercises are necessary. There are different workout routines you can do for your upper abs, lower abs, and the muscles on your sides. You must get all of these muscle groups toned and strong in order to have your entire stomach to look tight.

There are a variety of different sit-ups you can use to focus on different abdominal muscle groups, as well as exercises that require you to lift or swing your legs out. Although sit-ups are the most widely used exercise for abs, abdominal workout routines that make your abs tighten in order to keep you balanced will yield excellent results since these workouts will work the smaller and harder to tone muscles in your abdominal area. These are exercises for overall toned abs. However, no single exercise to strengthen your abdomen will produce perfect abs. A good exercise for your abs should require you to do a variety of different ab workouts.

Ab Exercise Guidelines: Perform several (3-5) abdominal exercises 2-3 times a week with at least a days rest in between each workout. Start with 2 sets of 10-15 repetitions for each exercise. As you improve move to 3 set of 20 repetitions. You do not need to do all the exercises. Simply select 3-5 that work well for you and vary your routine over the months. (Abdominal and Core Strength and Endurance Exercise List From Elizabeth Quinn,Your Guide to Sports Medicine)

1. Bicycle Maneuver - Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your fingers on the side of your head just behind your ears. Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold. Bring your knees up to about a 45-degree angle and slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion.

2. Captain's Chair - This exercise requires gym equipment. Start with legs dangling and slowly lift your knees in toward your chest. The motion should be controlled and deliberate as you bring your knees up and return them back to the starting position.

3. Crunch on an Exercise Ball - Sit on the exercise ball with your feet flat on the floor. Let the ball roll back slowly and lie back until your thighs and torso are parallel with the floor. Contract your abdominals raising your torso to no more than 45 degrees. To work the oblique muscles, make the exercise less stable by moving your feet closer together.

4. Basic Crunch - Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your fingertips to the side of your head just behind your ears. Push your lower back into the floor flattening the arch and hold. Curl up slowly so both your shoulders lift off the floor a few inches. Hold for a count of 2 and return to the start position. Tip: Don't clasp your fingers behind your head. Don't tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

5. Half Curl - Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your palms on your thighs and curl up until your fingertips reach your knees as you breathe out. Return to the start position. Tip: Don't tuck your chin to your chest, keep your head up.

Even though everyone would like to have perfect abs, diet, genetics, and life can sometimes get in the way. However, any abdominal exercise you can fit into your schedule will help get your stomach muscles tightened and burn any extra fat you might have in this area, as well as keep the pounds off in the holiday seasons.

Toni Grundstrom is a Freelance Writer who writes about many interests and hobbies. Click Here For Your Free EbookFITNESS:A GUIDE TO STAYING HEALTHY and other tips and suggestions on proper exercising and eating for a healthy lifestyle.

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