Lower ab exercises are a very important part of your stomach exercise program. Why? The lower abdominals are often neglected when performing core exercises. It is very easy to engage the upper abs in almost any exercise you perform, it is the lower abs that are harder to target.

Your stomach actually starts right below your breast bone. Many of you may not know that the abdominal area below your breast bone is actually pretty tone. The problem area is really the lower abdominal region of your stomach which starts just below your belly buttonf. The lower abs are the most common place for people to store fat.

For some this could be just a fat storing issue, for other it could be caused by digestion problems such as constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). You would likely have already talked to your doctor about either of those conditions, so if you have not been diagnosed, chances are it's more a fat issue.

Now doing lower ab exercises will help you tone your muscles in the lower abdomnial region and I will discuss the exercises that really target the lower abs in a bit. First, I would like to note that you cannot get a flat stomach or six pack abs without a proper diet. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes, but diet is 80-85% of the battle when it comes to getting a flat stomach and sexy abs.

You can read my article on how to lose belly fat as well as visit the quick weight loss tips section of the site. You will find lots of sound advice on how to get on track with nutrition. Other of you may even want to check out our section on detoxing your body and how detox can help you in your weight loss goals.

The Best Lower Ab Exercises

Leg Raises

Also known as the Captian's Chair leg raise, it is the second most effective move for both the obliques and rectus abdominis.

Stand on the chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body. Press your back against the pad and contract the abs to raise the legs and lift knees towards your chest. Slowly lower back down and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.

Do not swing your legs or use momentum to get your legs up. This can cause injury. If you keep your knees bent, you can focus more on the movement in the abdominals.

Reverse Crunch

Lie on the floor and place hands on the floor or behind your head. Bring the knees in towards your chest until they are bent to 90 degrees, with feet together or crossed. Contract the abs to curl the hips off the floor, reaching the legs up towards the ceiling. Lower and repeat for 12-16 reps.

In this exercise, make sure not to swing your legs to get your hips off the ground. Concentrate on using your abs.

Vertical Leg Crunch or Pelvic Thrusts

Lie face up on the floor and extend your legs straight up with knees crossed. Contract the abs to lift the shoulder blades off the floor, as though reaching your chest towards your feet. Keep the legs in a fixed position and imagine bringing your belly button towards your spine at the top of the movement. Lower and repeat for 12-16 reps.