Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

I just get bored of crunches so fast that after a week Im over it. Any videos, tools, equipment good to buy to tone the abs while keeping it a little more interesting?

Re: Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

I take pilate classes 2x a week. That def is very helpful for toning abs.

You could look into a Pilate DVD, or Pilates AB DVD.

Re: Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

Re: Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

I do 'get up sit ups'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AWdpfbhCPI&feature=related

I've also been doing a lot of other club & kettle bell exercises which all use a lot of core. Kettle bell swings feel really good to me for abs, too.

Re: Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

You can do the plank. That strengthens your whole core. Your forearms are on the floor...hands in a fist and feet out balancing on toes. I do it for 60-90 minutes, but see how long you can do it. You can lift one leg up and then do the other. You can also do it on the side by resting your body on one forearm and lay sideways. There are pictures and better instructions online that I can find you if you need.

I also like to lay down on a bench (you can do without a bench) and lift your legs up both at the same time and lower without hitting the floor. If you are not on a bench put your hands under your butt, palms down.

I like to do full sit ups with a 10lb weight and knees bent. I push the weight up as I sit up and then back down. I do 30 at a time but see how many you can do.

Also lie down whole body flat. Lift left leg straight up and right arm straight until they touch and then back down and alternate. It's really hard, I do 24...12 on each side.

Bicycle crunches are the best. I do for one minute. Lie back and hands behind head do crunches and right elbow to left knee and then alternate. See how long you can do it and then increase time length.

These are just some things that have really helped me over the past few months. There are other things I do at the gym using the captains chair and bench but I know you are looking for home solutions. Let me know if you need anymore explanation. Good luck..HTH!

Re: Aside from crunches - whats the best home workout for toning abs?

Perfect Abs (2005) Starring: Meghan White
I just ordered this and did it for the first time the other day. I loved it. I hate the videos that take 10 minutes to get to the abs...this is a no frills video and starts your abs right from hitting play. I believe there are 8 routines you can chose from I am still on the basic one that was 8 minutes but the longest one is 9 minutes. And I was feeling it the next day.