Basic Abdominal Exercises that Will Tone, Flatter and Contour Abs
The best exercises for toning the abs have always been ab-centered,
but there has never been the variety there is today. Once, the
truly dedicated did situps while holding a medicine ball on the
stomach, but today's toning focuses on training the abdominal
muscles to strengthen the back as well as flatten the stomach.
Abdominal Muscles Show with Diet and Exercise
If you're in a quest for the elusive six-pack, dieting alone
won't give you the necessary tone to achieve your goal. A flat
tummy usually requires some attention to dietary fats, carbs and
sugar, but to get a really great stomach, you need to isolate
and work the upper and lower abs. Fast results aren't the norm,
especially for men and women who have added a few pounds to the
midsection, a typical problem when you hit middle age. And if
you have back trouble you need to take special care before
starting an intensive ab workout: it may be better to start with
overall muscle stretching and toning by taking a beginning Yoga
class. If you're already in good condition, you can increase the
number of crunches or the number of sets you do to build the
muscle. And for extra quick results, cut out the breads, fats
and sweets.
Variety of Crunches Styles
A crunch is a crunch, but some may be more palatable than
others, which is why some people prefer to do their crunches
with a fitness ball, or on a slanted board, or in a class that
combines aerobics with toning exercises. A good aerobic workout,
even if it's fast walking, powers up your body and makes it burn
fat faster, lessening the chances of increasing fat deposits
around the belly. Spot toning has been spotted as something of
an exercise myth: if you're overweight, exercising one area
won't make that area skinnier.
Six tips for a great abs workout:
- If you have back or neck conditions, tell your trainer
or instructor before attempting abs exercises: there may be
modifications you should know about.
- Never strain your neck upward when doing crunches.
- Focus on your middle when going for the burn: this can
prevent you from straining your neck by pulling forward when
you're tired.
- Check with your doctor before doing any abs exercises
when you're pregnant.
- Take it easy on your tummy: give yourself an hour after
eating before doing abs work.
- Can't get the washboard stomach? Consider hiring a
trainer for some added help in muscle definition.
Continue reading the next aerobics article on back exercises
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