We all know that working out to improve our health is important. Not only do we become healthier and stronger, we also become more confident in life. Regardless of age and sex and regardless of your level of fitness, aerobics is good.  Even serious bodybuilders also include aerobic exercises as part of their training.

One of the most important parts of the body is the abdominal. It consists of a whole range of muscles that also assist in other aerobic movements. For people who are health conscious, having a flat tummy will certainly help boost confidence.. This is why targeting the abdomen directly or indirectly during aerobics is very important.
When you are looking at targeting your abdomen, think first of repetitions.

The best way to work on your abdomen is to add stretches into whatever you are doing. If you are walking or running in place, you should be stretching your body and stretching from side to side as you move. You have to be sure that the movement you are making is coming from your abdomen, however. It is all too easy to move your arms and legs and think that you are stretching your abdomen.

Great care and excellent technique are required to strengthen the abdominal muscles with sit-ups. To be effective, sit-ups must pull the torso upward from a lying position toward the knees, using only the abdominal group.

Often, more powerful muscles (those that flex the legs and hips), do much of the work.

This is especially true with straight-leg sit-ups. For best results, abdominals should be performed slowly with legs resting on a chair/bench, so that legs are bent at 90 degrees.

Twisting at the top of the sit-up movement causes tremendous rotational stress on the lower back which can lead to injury. When doing sit-ups, never push through back pain. Stop immediately at even the slightest twinge in the lower back.  Another way is to kneel down and then use your abdomen muscles to move up and down into different positions. Always remember to do the repetitions at high intensity so as to increase your heart rate and metabolism to achieve maximum results.

Checklist
*Lie on back with knees bent.

*Feet flat on the floor close to the buttocks, or raised up on a bench.

*Avoid having the feet heel down, unless you want to work your Hip Flexor muscles.

*No jerking or twisting movements for beginners.

*Breathe comfortably throughout the exercise.

*Commence curls with the shoulders, then the upper back and finally the lower back.

*Bring the torso up no more than 30 degrees; hold momentarily, and then lower the torso.

*Clasp hands behind the neck just to support the weight of the head.

*Don't pull on your head when doing the exercise.

*Keep your chin off your chest, aim to keep your upper spine straight (neutral). Warm up your stomach muscles with easy stomach exercises, before you advance.

*Finish off by stretching out the abdominals. Doing some dorsal raises will help stretch out your abdominals.

These  are simple methods and can be done anywhere, even in the comfort of your home. Always remember that the movements must come from your abdomen. 

The easy way to decide if you're working too hard, or in the wrong training zone, is the talk test, if you can hold a conversation easily, then you are probably working too easy - if you can't say a couple of words, you may be working too hard.

The author is a fitness trainer and can be contacted at 9845111353 0r e mail: mail@martinsfitness.com