How to Exercise for Your Abs

Video Transcript

"It seems like today everybody wants to know what to do to get that six pack, or maybe even just to lose a few inches around the waist. Hi, I'm Jani Roberts, and I'm a certified personal trainer, and also a graduate of the American Academy of Nutrition. Today, I'd like to show you a few exercises to get you started to really working that abdominal area and getting you results. Join me now. We're going to just take it down to the floor, in a seated position, with feet flat on the floor. We're going to start sitting up, and I'd like you to pull your shoulder blades together, grab a hold of your knees, and just pull that chest through nice and tight. Now, feel the alignment of your spine in that nice straight line. When we come up, I want you to seek that position, all right? Now, we're not going to go all the way back, so follow me here. About four inches back, now pull the chest through to come up, perfect. I know you can feel it. All the way back, pull the chest through to come up. This way, you don't have to worry about it hurting the lower back. You don't have to worry about it hurting the neck, especially if you're a beginner. Keep that range of motion short. All the way back, all the way up, excellent. Now, in addition, we want to strengthen that lower back, so I'm going to ask you to come over on your hands in a push-up position. Don't panic; down on your elbows. This is what we call plank position. Now, I'd like you to hold everything in an alignment, so you should have a nice straight line from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. If this hurts your lower back, just lift and hold. That's called our standard plank. I know you can feel it. This is a great way to get that ab workout started. I'm Jani Roberts. Thanks for joining me."