Since having three kids in less than five years, I am always trying to tighten and tone my abdominal muscles.
I exercise every day and include a lot of varieties of crunches.
I used to do all of my lower and upper abdominal exercises on a yoga mat on the floor. I did so many sit-ups and crunches that I created a sore spot on my tailbone. I actually rubbed the skin raw. I sometimes caused pain in my neck and shoulders. I finally added a padded incline bench to the assortment of gear in my home gym. The bench is a simple and fairly inexpensive piece of fitness equipment. It doesn’t take up much room and can be easily adjusted to the ideal position for the specific exercise method. It is great for not only building abdominal muscles but also helps stabilize the entire core. It improves the benefits of the movement. Purchasing the incline bench motivated me to work harder, lose weight and burn fat. It’s definitely more comfortable and safer than exercising on the floor. There is less risk of injury. I sometimes lie on the bench with my feet higher than my head and hooked over the supports. I can do full sit-ups or the smaller movement of crunches. I can add a side to side twist to target my oblique muscles. I increase the severity of the incline to add intensity to the motions. The exercises are more difficult and rewarding than lying flat. I sometimes position the bench at a minimal incline, hang on to the supports with my hands and stretch my legs straight a few inches in the air. This focuses on the lower abdominal muscles.