GET AWESOME ABS FOR SUMMER

Get bikini-ready abs in time for summer with these three awesome tummy-tightening exercises.

Do these moves three to five days a week and you'll have a flatter, tighter tummy within four to six weeks. Remember that you've got to combine exercise with healthy eating and aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, climbing stairs, etc) to see the best results.

THE PLANK (for entire abs):

Lie face down on the floor. Get into a pushup-style position, resting on the forearms, with palms flat on the floor. Push off the floor, raising up onto your toes and resting on the elbows. Keep your back flat, so your body makes a straight line from head to heels. (It helps to do this in front of a mirror, so you can check your line). You can tilt your pelvis and contract your tummy muscles to prevent your butt from sticking up in the air. Hold the "plank" pose for 20 to 60 seconds, as long as you can handle. Lower slowly to starting position. Do this move 3 to 5 times.

CRUNCHES (for upper abs):

Lie flat on the floor or on top of your bed, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Cross arms in front of you with each hand on the opposite shoulder like you're a mummy. Clench your stomach muscles (like clenching your fist) and keeping your back very straight, slowly raise your upper body off the floor until your shoulder blades are off the floor. Go as high as you can, making your stomach muscles lift your body, but don’t pull your neck forward. (It may help to place an orange under your chin, so you can’t cheat and use your neck to pull you up). Hold for a second at the highest point, then slowly lower back down. Do 10 to 15 of these, rest for a minute, then do 10 to 15 more.

PEDALING (for lower abs):

Lie on your back, arms out beside you, legs straight in front of you. Tighten your stomach muscles and press your lower back into the floor as you raise your legs (keep them straight) to a 45 degree angle, halfway between the ground and pointing at the ceiling. That's the starting position. Bend your right leg and pull your right knee in towards your chest, trying to touch it to your chest. Then straighten it back out to the 45-degree angle starting position, while at the same time bending your left leg and trying to touch your left leg to your chest. This will make a pedaling motion. Keep your abdominal muscles very tight as you do the exercise. Do 20 pedals on each side.

LEAN AND TWIST (for side abs):

Sit up with your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor. Cross your arms over your chest so that your hands rest on the opposite shoulders. Keep your back straight and begin to lean back slowly, controlling the movement by tightening your stomach muscles. Gently twist from side to side as you lean back. When you feel like you're going to fall to the floor, use your stomach muscles to pull yourself back to a sitting position. Do 10 of those, as slowly as possible. NOTE: There should be absolutely no movement from the waist down. If this exercise is performed correctly, there should be a minimal range of motion (only a couple of inches to each side).