Ab exercises are easy to do and great for helping you maintain your ideal weight and overall fitness. They also provide the much needed strength training to the mid section of your body and give you that flat belly you desire. There are many exercises that are great for keeping the abs toned. This article will show you a few that can be performed on a daily basis both quickly and easily to help keep you in shape.

The first exercise uses an exercise ball. These have become very popular as of late and can be used for a wide variety of reasons. The exercise ball crunch is a great exercise that uses this tool. These are like regular crunches except you are lying on the ball. Place the ball under your back and do the crunches as you normally would. This type of crunch is more effective than the standard crunches you are probably used to because the abs are worked harder. Place your lower back firmly on the ball, interlacing your fingers behind your head. Contract your abs, slowly lifting your torso off the ball. Curl up, then slowly lower your back. Repeat the exercise a number of times, increasing it as days go by and your abs become stronger. Remember to remain stable as not doing so can cause injury.

Leg lifts are a great fitness exercise for the lower abs. Lie on your back and place your hands next to your buttocks. Raise your legs to form a 90 degree angle with the floor. They should be directly above your hips. Then, lower your legs until they are approximately six to eight inches above the floor. Raise them up again. Do not touch your legs to the floor until you have completed several repetitions of this exercise.

Double crunches are another fitness challenge you can do to strengthen your abs. Lie on the floor and bend your knees, placing your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on the floor and contract your abdominal muscles and lift your legs and torso off the floor at the same time. Slowly return to the starting position without touching your shoulders to the floor. Repeat the exercise several times.