Looking for easy ab workouts? There are many ab workout exercises that you can do at home without buying any special equipment. If you are just starting an abdominal exercising program, note that “easy” doesn’t necessarily mean that your muscles won’t ache when you are finished.

Try the standard crunch for a great introduction to ab exercises. Lie on the floor on your back. Bend your knees up to a 90 degree angle and place your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands on your chest or rest your arms flat on the floor next to your body. Look up at the ceiling. Use your stomach muscles to lift your shoulders off of the floor. Take about two seconds to lift up your shoulders, hold for about two seconds and take about two seconds to lower your shoulders back to the ground. This is the easiest crunch.

If you want a more challenging crunch, put your hands on the sides of your head. However, don’t cheat – refrain from using your hands to pull your head towards the ceiling.

If you are ready for the most challenging crunch, put your arms straight up over your head and lift those shoulders. To exercise your oblique muscles, assume the sit-up position, with your hands behind your ears and your elbows straight out, not pointing up towards the ceiling. Lift your knees up and point them to one side. Then, lift your shoulders off the floor as if you were moving your ribs towards your pelvis. Repeat, pointing your knees to your other side.

Body twists are next on the list. Stand tall and pull in your stomach muscles. Keeping your legs straight, twist your body from side to side.

Keep in mind that your stomach muscles may not pop out in a couple of weeks. If you have extra body fat, the fat needs to be lost before the muscles below can be seen. However, you will be strengthening your important stomach muscles, a good thing in and of itself, regardless of how flat your stomach appears to be.