We all want to tone our abs up because it not only makes us look great but also feel better about ourselves. Your midsection is the core of your body and plays a part in controlling all of our movements. This is why it is so important to have strong abdominal muscles.

Many people will have strong abs from doing sit ups and crunches but they still can't get that toned, ripped look that everyone is after. Most of the time this is because many people do not understand that there are several muscles that make up the abdominal region and they all must be worked to get maximum results.

Just doing crazy amounts of sit ups is not going to work because you are only isolating one particular area of your abs. There are actually three sets of muscles that need to be worked on. To accomplish this you need to do a variety of exercises including crunches, side bends, leg lifts and vacuuming your stomach which involves expending all the air out of your lungs and sucking your stomach in and holding. By doing a combination of all of these exercises you will be hitting your entire midsection.

Of course a lot depends on your physical condition and if you have back problems because these types of exercises can be difficult for someone with back issues. Also, it does not matter how many of these exercises you do if your eating habits are not solid. This is the other part of the equation when it comes to having toned abs. By simply eating a sensible, well balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, you will have no problems toning up.

There are also many exercise machines you can use if you have trouble with these types of calisthenics. These machines are usually easier on your joints and much more low impact.