Abdominal muscles exercises are the most sought exercises inside and outside the gym because everybody is in dire need to get the flattest abdominals that reflects a flat stomach. It is true that our society today is becoming beauty and health conscious. As a result, there has been an increase focus on exercises and fitness programs which pave the way of the demands and fascination from the exercises in abdominal muscles.
Our abdominal muscles are mainly located between the ribs and hip bone and in front of the body. They works to support the upper body, allow movement and contraction and to hold vital organs on a proper place by regulating pressure from the abdomen. Our abdominal muscles have different vital works under the body and cannot be seen by the naked eye. When you are extremely obese, fats can accumulate in the abdomen, and fats can cover the muscles which then can give you an abdominal fat. In this case, even if you have the best and great muscles in the abdomen, it is useless when covered with fats.
Abdominal exercises or ab workouts are focusing on the abdominal muscles, doing it properly can help you tone and strengthen the abdominal muscles, but when incorrectly done, it may result to unnecessary strain on the back and other muscles of the body.
Spot Reduction? Oh No!
There is no such things as spot reduction for fats, so never believe any equipment that promise to decrease fat around the tummy. Abdominal exercises cannot reduce fat, it will train your abdominal muscles while leaving layers of fat in the abdomen unchanged. Even if you do thousands of crunches and sit-ups, fat will not reduce especially when you have extreme fat accumulation around the tummy, and take note, muscles are lying under the fats, so muscles are evidently seen when fats are gone, and spot reduction is the ways. Diet and combination of exercises are always the best choice.
The Flat-Stomach Myth:
Being obsessed with a flat abdominal area can lead you to frustration, anxiety and even some eating disorders which are not at all healthy. The truth about flat stomach is that it cannot be possible to achieve. In the first place, our abdominal muscles are not designed to be flat. It will always be rounded and not flat and your gender, age and genetics can greatly affect the size and shape of our abdominals.
Again, abdominal muscles exercises are not meant to flatten your tummy, it just strengthen the muscles and building ab muscles little by little. It also allows proper function of the abdominal muscles. Now, when you decide to add exercises for your abdominal muscles in your exercise program, you have to take precaution in choosing such exercises because they can be straining and dangerous to the body.
Tips Before The Exercise...
A proper warm-up before starting the abdominal muscles exercises for 15 minutes is important to prevent muscle strain.
Use an exercise mat when exercising to ensure back safety.
Do the exercises regularly for proper strength training and to build your ab muscles.
Always bring a towel while exercising to swipe off the sweat.
If you are a beginner and would want to do abdominal exercises using gym equipment, ask for an assistant by a gym instructor for proper usage.
The Bicycle maneuver or the TWISTING CRUNCH
Lie flat on the floor with your back pressed against the ground.
Place your hands behind the head and bring your knees as much as possible in a 45-degree angle and slowly do a bicycle pedal motion.
As you do the pedaling, twist the upper body and trunk by allowing left elbow to touch your right knee, then right elbow to left knee.
Perform the exercise in a slow and controlled manner as possible.
Captain's Chair
This is one of the most effective exercises for muscles but the most difficult as it stabilizes upper body. This exercise is contraindicated to lower back problems or for a beginner.
Sit upright on a chair while legs dangling from the chair.
Slowly, lift knees up going towards the chest and hold in that position for a few seconds.
Lowered the knees and get back to the starting position and repeat.
Crunch on Exercise Ball
In choosing an exercise ball for you, you must be able to sit on it and your knees bent and soles of feet resting on the floor.
Roll the ball slowly and lie on the ball with your back until your thighs and chest are parallel with each other.
Placed arms across the chest and chin down to the chest.
As you contract your abdominal muscles, raise your chest at least 45 degrees angle.
To make the exercise easier for you, spread you legs and feet wider apart for total support while lying on the ball.
Repeat many steps as you can.
Among other crunches, these two are known to be the most effective and the safest abdominal muscles exercises that can be done either at home or in the gym.
Vertical Crunch
Lie flat on the floor with your back pressed against the ground.
Place your hands behind your head for proper support.
Slowly raise your crossed legs at the ankles with a slight bend in the knee.
Now, as you contract your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body toward your knees and then lower down.
Do as many steps as possible.
Reverse Crunch
Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed against the floor.
Place hands beside your head or place then flat on your sides (whatever you feel the most comfortable).
Cross your feet at the ankles and then slowly lift your feet from the floor up to a 90-degree angle.
Once you are stable and comfortable in this position, press your lower back on the floor and contract your abdominal muscles as you move down the crossed legs few inches from the floor and then up and down again. Make sure feet are not touching on the floor during the exercise.
Next, learn the correct way to Get Rid Of Abdominal Fat and lose weight fast.
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