Ab-solutely brilliant

"Are you happy, are you satisfied | How long can you stand the heat?" Queen, Another One Bites The Dust

Face it: most people would rather fill their belly's with food than to exercise them. And no wonder, it's hard work! But if you're going to go for the complete package, you can't afford NOT to have a good ab routine.

Here are a few exercises that I've done in "boot camp-like" ab classes. You won't find a standard sit up or crunch here. No way.

Easiest:
* Get yourself in the classic sit up position. Sit up, do a rapid 1-2-3 punch with both arms, and come back down 10 times. Once you complete that immediately roll over into a plank position (keep your arms folded, not extended) and hold for 20 seconds. Rinse, repeat. Aim for 4 sets.

Harder:
* Grab a couple of dumbbells. Get in plank position holding onto the weights. Take your left arm and raise it up to the side and over, twisting your body so that your arm and chest are in line. Bring the weight down, repeat on the opposite side. How many can you stand?

Hardest (Note: these are advanced moves... so don't even think about it if you are a beginner!):
* Got a medicine ball handy? No? Grab a bag of sugar. Get in classic sit up position. Bring your legs up in "bicycle". Hold your ball (or sugar, as the case may be) close to your chest and twist side to side as you bicycle. Remember to breath. Try not to pass out.
* Lay yourself down. Have a "lighter" dumbbell overhead. Holding the dumbbell with both hands, bring your arms overhead to meet your legs, which, by the way, come up at the same time. Are you feeling this yet?