Every other week another new fitness gadget is released. It seems we want to exercise without actually moving. Whether it's a Vibrating Power Plate or an iGallop - plain old bodyweight exercises just don't seem to be in vogue.

Over the last few weeks I've realized how astonishingly weak my abdominals are. That's because real strength and endurance requires real work. It requires sweat, and mental toughness... in fact anything but laziness.

I tried doing something called an "L-Sit". It is similar to a hanging leg raise - but you hold your legs in the L position. It's something gymnasts are extremely good at. The challenge with an L-Sit is actually holding your legs in place for any duration. Jeremy provides a great guide to increasing abdominal strength here (there is a lot about various leg raises).