One of the hardest areas to tone and sculpt is your abdominal muscles. Since fat gets primarily stored in the stomach, this area is one of the first to get flabby and soft. Oftentimes a workout regime will only include exercises like crunches or sit-ups to tone this area. There are, however, other options to this limited view of an abdominal workout. If you have a barbell lying around, there are several exercises to work and tone your abs using this piece of equipment.
Barbell Abdominal Rollouts
For this exercise, you will want a relatively light barbell. Begin by placing the barbell on the floor. Lean forward and place your hands on the barbell. Your body should be in a V position. Slowly push the barbell out and lower your body to the ground so your torso is parallel with it. Keeping your arms straight, make sure that you push the barbell out as far as you can. Then slowly roll the barbell back to the starting V position, with your rear end as high as you can get it. Do 10 to 15 of these, slowly increasing the number with added strength.
Compound Barbell Good Morning
Start this exercise standing straight with your feet about shoulder length apart. Put a light barbell on your shoulders and hold it in a comfortable position. First, twist your torso to the right while keeping your legs, hips and feet pointed forward. Slowly twist back to the center position. Then lower your chest forward until the top half of your body is parallel to the floor. Again, slowly move back to the starting position. Finish this exercise by twisting to the left and then back to the starting position. Complete this exercise three or four times to start and add reps as you build your muscles up.
Barbell Side Bends
Start this exercise in the standing position. With your feet about shoulder length apart, place the barbell back on your shoulders and hold it in a comfortable position. Inhale deeply and bend down to the right in a slow and controlled manner. Make sure to go as far as you can. Then bend to the left as far as you can. Finally, come back to the starting position and exhale. One thing to remember is to bend at the waist and not at the hips or knees. This exercise can also be done in a sitting position.
Barbell Abdominal Rollouts
For this exercise, you will want a relatively light barbell. Begin by placing the barbell on the floor. Lean forward and place your hands on the barbell. Your body should be in a V position. Slowly push the barbell out and lower your body to the ground so your torso is parallel with it. Keeping your arms straight, make sure that you push the barbell out as far as you can. Then slowly roll the barbell back to the starting V position, with your rear end as high as you can get it. Do 10 to 15 of these, slowly increasing the number with added strength.
Compound Barbell Good Morning
Start this exercise standing straight with your feet about shoulder length apart. Put a light barbell on your shoulders and hold it in a comfortable position. First, twist your torso to the right while keeping your legs, hips and feet pointed forward. Slowly twist back to the center position. Then lower your chest forward until the top half of your body is parallel to the floor. Again, slowly move back to the starting position. Finish this exercise by twisting to the left and then back to the starting position. Complete this exercise three or four times to start and add reps as you build your muscles up.
Barbell Side Bends
Start this exercise in the standing position. With your feet about shoulder length apart, place the barbell back on your shoulders and hold it in a comfortable position. Inhale deeply and bend down to the right in a slow and controlled manner. Make sure to go as far as you can. Then bend to the left as far as you can. Finally, come back to the starting position and exhale. One thing to remember is to bend at the waist and not at the hips or knees. This exercise can also be done in a sitting position.
