Abstract: An abdominal exercise apparatus includes a first cross bar positioned behind the user's ankles, a second cross bar positioned above and over the user's knees and a third cross bar positioned below the user's hips and behind the user's thighs. A rigid frame connects the centers of the three cross bars and maintains the cross bars in parallel. The first cross bar can be adapted to support weights. With the user on the user's back, the apparatus is held with the user's legs. The user raises and lowers the user's legs with the apparatus to exercise abdominal muscles.