Because honestly, thousands of reps of crunches (which aren't that great of an exercise in the first place) just won't get the job done and can cause a host of other problems in your body.

And sit-ups, while being a challenging exercise to the abs, can be very tough on the lower back due to the torque involved.. In addition, they focus a LOT on the hip flexors with abs being a secondary player.

Crunches and sit-ups have been a bit demonized in the fitness industry for the past few years...and while there ARE very good reasons why these exercises have been "attacked," I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater.

The six-pack abs still need to be worked directly...they just need to be worked smarter.

So what's the solution for hitting the six-pack and not screwing up your back?

You know I won't leave you hanging!

This exercise is called the Abdominal Sit-Up and here's why it's so good...

• It uses a sit-up-like movement but focuses directly on the abdominal muscles as a primary mover rather than the hip flexors (which a regular sit-up does).
• It's very safe for your lower back because of the change in leverage involved.
• It targets the stretched (arched back) range of motion of the abs, which is totally missed in standard floor crunch.
• It puts FAR more resistance on the six-pack area than a standard crunch, giving you much better development so that your abs are visible, even at higher bodyfat levels.

To perform this exercise, you'll need a simple rolled-up towel.

Lie on your back on the floor. Roll up the towel and set it underneath your lower back, just above the waistband (the size of the towel affects your body position during this movement - use a fairly large towel).

Your knees should be bent about 90 degrees. Keep your feet close together and knees fairly wide apart. This "frog leg" position prevents the hip flexors from having a direct line of pull, helping to minimize their involvement.

Do not anchor your feet or have someone hold them down. That would automatically activates the hip flexors. You'll get the most out of this exercise by minimizing their involvement.

You are now ready to begin.

Hold your arms out in front of you. Then, keeping your torso straight and stiff, start the sit-up by tightening your lower abs then lifting your upper body off the  floor.