| Using resistance bands can be an effective | | | | width apart. Put your hands above your head, holding |
| component of any workout routine, and stomach | | | | the band about eighteen inches apart. Keeping your |
| exercises are no exception. There are a number of | | | | left hand overhead, bring your right hand out to the |
| exercises targeting the midsection that incorporate | | | | side, elbow bent at about a ninety degree angle. Hold |
| resistance bands. Resistance bands come in a variety | | | | your left arm still as you contract your abdominals and |
| of difficulties, usually indicated by the color of the band | | | | lower your right arm until your hand is in line with your |
| itself (e.g., green can be little resistance, yellow may be | | | | chest. Hold this position, then slowly return. Repeat for |
| medium, red for difficult, etc.). Choose a resistance | | | | an entire set, then switch hands. Keep your back |
| level that is appropriate for you, then move up as | | | | straight and avoid bending or leaning at the waist. For |
| necessary. Do not overdo it by immediately grabbing | | | | an additional challenge, do this exercise standing on |
| the most advanced band you can find, as this can lead | | | | one foot. Perform the exercise with both hands while |
| to injury. As with any workout routine, be sure to | | | | standing on your left foot, then do it all again on your |
| consult a professional before beginning and always | | | | right foot. |
| warm up properly to avoid injury. | | | | Twisting Roll-Back |
| Seated Crunch | | | | For this stomach exercise, you will need to sit on a flat |
| This exercise provides the same benefits as the basic | | | | surface, preferably the floor. Use a mat or towel for |
| abdominal crunch, but with less neck strain and without | | | | cushioning to ease possible strain on your tail bone. Sit |
| the possible discomfort that comes with lying on the | | | | down with your legs bent and heels on the floor. Your |
| floor, since it uses a band rather than gravity to | | | | toes should be pointing up-- do not put your feet flat |
| provide resistance. For this stomach exercise, you will | | | | on the floor. Loop the band around your feet, put one |
| need to be sitting in a straight back chair which you | | | | end in each hand and put your hands together. In a |
| can somehow loop your band through. Sit up straight | | | | rolling motion, lower your torso toward the floor about |
| with your feet flat on the floor and about as wide | | | | forty-five degrees. As you do this, twist to the right |
| apart as your hips. Contract your abdominal muscles, | | | | and spread your hands to the sides. Hold for a second, |
| and slowly bend forward to about a forty-five degree | | | | then rotate back to the middle and raise your torso |
| angle. Repeat for an entire set. Be sure to keep your | | | | back to start. Your heels should remain on the floor |
| feet on the floor and your back as straight as possible. | | | | throughout the exercise. Do a full set, then switch to |
| One-Arm Band Pull | | | | the left side. |
| Put the chair away and stand up, again with feet hip | | | | |