Six pack true tales

You see it all the time. Commercials touting every ab machine and device you can possibly imagine. And it seems like there is a new one on the market every month promising perfectly sculpted abs in 20 minutes a day with little effort. But do these devices actually work? And if not what is the answer? This article dissolves all the myths and shows you what really works.

Do abdominal exercises really eliminate all that body fat around your midsection? Let's address this myth once and for all. Despite what you have seen on television the answer is absolutely not. Why? Well if you think about it the abs are muscles that are actually under that belly fat. There is absolutely no such thing as spot reducing. The only way to eliminate fat around the middle is through diet and exercise. In other words, overall weight reduction.

Now, while abdominal exercises do not reduce fat around the waist, there are many benefits. Having strong abs supports your spine and can even eliminate back pain in some cases. And yes, if you are lucky enough to not store fat around the middle, those washboard abs are obtainable.

This article will look at a basic ab crunch that is easy and effective. Remember however that like all major muscle groups you do not need to work your abdominal muscles every day. Best results will be obtained if you give your abs a day to recover.

Lay down on a comfortable mat if possible. Keep your feet flat on the floor knees extended up. Now gently clasp your hands behind your neck. Now slowly move your upper body up taking care not to rest your head against your chest. As you move up (shoulders, arms, head) you should feel tension in your midsection. Hold at the top a few seconds then slowly go back down. As in other muscle groups, 8 - 15 reps or to fatigue is all you need. How many sets depends on your conditioning and other factors.

Some people experience neck pain. This due to jerking the neck up with the hands. Remember this is a crunch. The movement should be from the middle only.

Hopefully this article will get you on the right path to getting those important abdominal muscles in better shape. Next time we will look at other ab muscles and related exercises