Medicine ball workouts are an effective way to reduce stomach fat and get awesome abs. Originally used mainly by boxers as part of upper body strength training, it has gained popularity over the past ten years. This exercise equipment is not only for upper body training but is used for overall core training, and more specifically, to tone abdominal muscles.

Medicine ball workouts effectively strengthens one's core and abdominal muscles. It is a heavy ball filled with sand and covered by thick rubber. It comes in varying weights, ranging from two to fifteen pounds. The item is fairly inexpensive, small enough for easy storage and is very durable. For example, it can be thrown extremely hard, hitting surfaces, but still will not break. It can be used for many purposes, from various abdominal workouts to many other types of exercises.

Before beginning any exercises, you should carefully select a properly-weighted ball compatible with your physical condition. Additional equipment is unnecessary when using a medicine ball. Exercises can be done in almost any location. Following are some examples of exercises using this equipment.

One exercise is called abdominal crunch with a toe touch. To do this, lie on your back with your legs pointed straight up. Keep your arms straight while holding the medicine ball. Exhale as you lift your shoulders off the floor, trying to touch the medicine ball to your toes. Be careful not to stress your neck. If you cannot perform an entire set, then do 5 repetitions and rest.

The second workout is the Russian Twist. Begin in a sitting position with knees bent and feet flat on the floor in front of you. Extend your arms straight while holding the ball. Lean back as far as is comfortable, striving to make a 45 degree angle. While in this position, twist upper body to the left, then right. The further you lean back, the more difficult the exercise is.

The following exercise is a change to the classic stomach workout of crunches on a stability ball. Begin on the stability ball as you would when usually performing crunches. The change is that you also hold a medicine ball overhead when bending forward and lifting the shoulders. As you lift up, hold the position momentarily, and then slowly lower your upper body.

One more workout is to hold the ball with arms extended at shoulder height in front of you. Stand with your back to a wall, about 2 feet away. With legs slightly bent, bend arms slightly and rotate chest to one side, bump wall with ball, then rotate chest to the other side, bumping the wall again.

Medicine ball workouts dramatically reduce stomach fat and produce six pack abs. An individual can perform a variety of exercises in addition to the three described above. This equipment is very simple, affordable and tones stomach muscles by adding resistance to this area of the body. One can vary the amount of resistance by using heavier or lighter weighted balls. In addition to helping to tone the abs, the medicine ball tones secondary muscles in the arms and back.