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Home › Fitness › Workouts › Lose the Pooch! The Best Exercises for Lower Abs
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Lose the Pooch! The Best Exercises for Lower Abs

8 moves to melt off that pesky layer of lower-belly fat

By Jessica Smith
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Tags: abs exercises, abs workouts, bikini body, no-equipment workout
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Tighten Up From Top to Bottom
The term "lower abs" is actually a misnomer—your rectus abdominis muscle, or abdominal wall, actually covers your entire midsection and connects at your pelvis. Still, women (and men!) are constantly searching for exercises that will help eliminate that dreaded lower-belly pooch (We got your attention, right?). And now the search is over! Most of these effective exercises target multiple abdominal muscles, so you'll maximize your belly-burn with every rep.

Workout details: Do the prescribed number of sets and reps for each exercise consecutively, taking a short 45-60 second rest in between sets. Perform the full workout on 3-4 non-consecutive days per week. Another option is to pick a few of your favorite moves and do them after a cardio session or add them into your regular strength training routine.

You'll need: A mat or towel. That's it!

Bonus: Focusing on the activation of your core is one of the keys to success with these abs toners (and any abdominal exercise). In fact, one study from Hull University found that people who mentally focused on their muscles and how they were moving experienced greater muscle activity, which can result in greater strength gains over time. So don't just "go through the motions." We've included "mind your muscle" tips with every exercise to help you maximize your results.

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