Whether due to bad weather or a late night, there are always those days when getting out of bed to go and work out feels like the last thing in the world you would want to do. Fortunately, when it comes to toning your abs, your bed is actually a great place from which you can do this, so here are some exercises to try.
Butterfly Crunches
Crunches work all four of the abdominal muscles, with butterfly crunches being especially beneficial for the abs. This is an easy exercise to do, and simply requires you to lie on your back and place the soles of your feet together. Raise your legs high up to create a butterfly shape, before crunching upwards towards your legs, and repeating ten times.
Pillow Prop
The pillow prop makes use of two pillows that need to be stacked at the foot of your bed. Place your feet onto the pillows and lie flat on the bed, crossing your arms over your chest. Breathe in deeply while pulling your stomach in, and then, as you lift your upper body towards your feet, breathe out. Breathe in once again as you lie back down, before relaxing your muscles and repeating five times.
Plank Variations
The plank is an exercise that most people know how to do, and consists of lying flat on your stomach before lifting your body, supporting it and holding it straight with your elbows, forearms and the balls of your toes. After holding this position for as long as you can, you can then rest, before trying again and seeing if you can beat your previous time. In addition to the standard plank, there are many plank variations that provide the abs with an extra workout. The plank lift requires you to bend your body upwards, creating an arch, while the side plank uses the elbow and side of the foot to support the body.
V-Ups
V-ups are an exercise that you may find quite difficult at first, but this is a great way to tone the abs, and will become easier the more you try it. Simply lie down on your back, extending both arms over your head. Bend your body at the waist and lift your arms and legs at the same time, creating a V-shape with your body. Slowly lower yourself back down before relaxing your muscles and repeating.
Roll-Ups
Roll-ups are another effective ab-toning exercise, and should begin with you lying on your back, with your arms and legs stretched. As you slowly lift your body into a sitting position, reach your arms downwards to try to touch your toes. Hold this for a few seconds, while you feel your muscles stretching, before gently lying back down again. This exercise can be repeated up to 15 times, but make sure that you continue to breathe regularly all the way through.
While you may think that you would not get an effective workout by staying in bed, these exercises are a fantastic way to tone up your midsection. To top it off, your bed is much softer than the floor, meaning that your body will not hurt as much the next day.
