Winning Workouts - Planks

Do you get bored lying down and doing the standard sit-ups or crunches?

Try trading your regular abdominal routine for a series of planks. 

Explanation: 

Hold your body in a push up position with your body flat like a board (if you have wrist issues, you can clasp your hands together and bring your forearms to the ground). 

Draw your belly button in towards your low back, engaging your abdonimal muscles to protect your low back.  

Make sure your rear end is neither up in air or sagging in the middle.  

Hold for 20-60 seconds and attempt to do at least 3 to 6 sets.  

Benefit: 

This will not only build stronger, more visually appealing abs, but also strengthen your entire core and back muscles which is key in spinal health and posture.  This exercise has the benefit of working the core AND the back instead of just the upper abdominals like you would be working when doing the basic crunches.