What You Didn't Know About Your Abs

Getting the abdominal area in shape can be a manageable task, once you understand the basic science involved.

You should have your doctor’s clearance before engaging in any physical activity, now with that said, the first thing that you need to do is warm up for about 8 mins before embarking on the ab workout. Do not engage in any abdominal training , if you have any lower back or pelvic issues.

For you to have a strong, lean and chiseled abdominal area-you need to pay attention to the following; your sleeping habits, nutrition, resistance/weight training and cardio vascular training. Genetics do play a role, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t improve on your ab and core strength.

So how do you work the abs?, we start off by working the oblique muscles (the area that covers your love handles) first. Reason being that they are your weakest muscles in the abdominal region, and unfortunately you also have extra fat holding on over here They are divided into the internal and external obliques. These muscles criss cross each other, another reason why you should work them from different angles.

How? Answer: you would perform 3-4 sets of 12-15 reps of the various oblique exercises, ….get them tired, and then proceed to the “front” muscles, i.e. the rectus abdominis and transverse abdominus –that form the” six pack”. Oblique exercises would include lateral lumbar rolls, Saxons, Standing rotations with a bar, and Diagonal flutter kicks.

The rectus abdominis and transverse abdominus are very powerful muscles, and a lot of energy is utilized in working them out-and its funny the way a lot of people get into the gym, and the first thing that they do is a set of situps!.That’s not effective! Because by the time you get over these muscles, you are tired., and you don’t have enough energy for working the obliques effectively(remember they are your weakest abdominal muscles!).

Now you’d perform about 3-4 sets of various exercises that target the “ sixpack” area., and you’d be on your way to success. Exercises in this section would include balance ball crunches, hip thrusts and air bike crunches.

Performing running sprints is also an excellent way of burning excess body fat, and getting the abdominal area really cut. You only need to look at the wide receivers in the NFL and basketball players like Allen Iverson, a clear testimony of what sprinting can do for you.. A great combination is when you combine some distance running with the sprinting, and icing it up with some boxing or martial arts.

Having dinner early, say anywhere between 6pm and 7.15 pm will also help in keeping your waist lean and tight. A balanced diet consisting of Carbohydrates, proteins, fruits and vegetables improves your metabolism and optimum health in general. Key thing over here is having 5-7 small meals , spaced out over a single day. .Avoid junk food! Powerful tip; Spend time chewing your food, enjoy it…..you’ll end up eating less, plus you also get to reprogram your cells. Resulting in you eating less, which is effective for those who want to control their caloric intake.

You can’t talk about getting the abdominal area in shape, without mentioning resistance training. This may involve using your own body, weights, bands, and other functional training equipment. Do some research on this area or consult with a Fitness professional, before embarking on a resistance-training program. In the meantime stay focused , and keep things moving!

Eric Odera offers motivating and highly creative training to re-energize the lifestyles of busy executives in New York City. Please visit http://www.ericodera.com E-mail:rocadera@yahoo.com