There are plenty of reasons why women should work out to build stronger and tougher abdominal muscles. By simply toning your belly fat and exercising your abdominal muscles, you can eliminate lower back pain, poor posture, and other cardiovascular diseases.

However, there is still a lot of misinformation about strengthening your core and achieving the desired female abs. We have come up with several great exercises which target the four essential muscle groups in your abdomen.

Ideal Ab Exercises

Side Plank

Start by putting your elbow directly below your shoulder, and both legs stretched out in a long line. You can stack your feet if you like challenges, or you can get your feet staggered to achieve better balance. Lift your hips off the floor and ensure a straight line from your shoulder to your feet. Hold position for around 30 seconds before switching sides.

Commando Plank

Begin in a standard high plank position with your core engaged. Hold for 30 seconds and lower down to one forearm each time and then back up onto your hands. Next, push through each arm to return to a standard high plank with your back flat.

Bear Crawl

Get into a push-up position with the hand beneath your shoulders. Ensure your back and core are engaged with the feet being hip-distance apart and your heels off the floor. Move forward by walking your right hand and left foot simultaneously in a crawling motion.

Ensure that your body is low while you are in a crawling motion. Then, switch sides and move the left hand and right leg forward. You can move 5 -7 steps as you gradually increase the pace and distance that you move.

Sit-Ups

Lie down flat on your back and bend your legs with your feet firmly on the ground. Engage your core and curl your upper body till your right elbow touches your left knee. Return to the initial position and lift your upper body till your left elbow touches your right knee.

Leg Raise

Lie on your back with both legs straight and together. Engage your core and lift both legs towards the ceiling till your butt comes above the floor. Lower the legs (while they are still straight) till they are slightly above the floor and raise them back again. Repeat.