Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Crunchtime For Crunches - Six Pack Abs Workouts

Everyday I go to the gym I witness folks doing useless abdominal exercises. They truly have no clue that these dinosaur type exercises will give them a variety of lower back problems and never really get their abs to really pop!

These crunch-a-holics- pound out rep after rep of useless sit-ups, crunches, side bends, machine crunches, and many more big time wasting exercises thinking that the burn they feel will miraculously uncover their hidden six pack abs.

As much as it absolutely sucks to perform hundreds of crunches and sit-ups, people still run to the fitness center consistently and pound out rep after rep! Why? Because conventional wisdom says that feeling the burn from these types of abdominal exercises will help tone and flatten your abs.

Newsflash people...it won't.

Regardless of how intense the burn might be from crunches and sit-ups, neither one of these exercises is all that helpful in building rock hard six pack abs, and in fact, doing crunches and sit-ups is virtually a big waste of your precious time.

Here's why.

Crunches are resistance exercises, and just like any other resistance exercise, if you can do it for high repetitions (30 or 50 or even 100) reps it is practically useless to improve your body composition.

The best rep range for working the abdominals is between 10 and 20 reps. Anything more and you are probably wasting your time.

Now sit-ups may be somewhat harder than crunches, but they aren't that much more valuable. Plus, doing sit-ups can be risky because doing them puts pressure on the lower back and that puts you at risk for a herniated disc. Trust me, it is not worth it!

Both crunches & sit-ups are risky, boring, and not necessary to build rock hard six pack abs. In fact, there are many exercises that you may have never heard of before that work your core much better and shield your lower back from soreness.

Some of my favorite crunchless abdominal exercises are:

Rookie Level Mountain Climbers Plank Lying Hip Extension

Advanced Level Renegade Dumbbell Row Forearm Plank Hanging Knee Raises

Hardcore Level Sumo Deadlift to Curl Windshield Wipers L-Pullups

Put some spice back into your abs training and skip the boring, back-breaking crunches and sit-ups. The exercises listed are far more helpful, and much more fun. Plus, your lower back and neck will thank you in the end!

4 Things NOT To Do When Experimenting With New Ab Workout

Ab workouts are a great way to sculpt a six-pack in no time at all. The problem here, however, is that some people go about the whole business without a clue about what they're doing.

If you are starting out with a set of ab workouts, make sure to keep these tips in mind to prevent yourself from getting injured in the process:

Start without warming up This is one of the cardinal rules of working out, and is especially important for ab-targeted exercises.

Your abdominal muscles are actually one, big bulk of muscle that supports your entire body as you sit, stand and move about. Get too eager in building up a six-pack, and you may end up bedridden for the better part of a week.

Reach down to your toes, then reach back as far as far as you can for starters. Once you have the basics down, make sure to start your workout sessions slowly - and then build intensity.

Get into awkward angles One of the easiest ways to injury during a workout is to overreach the boundaries of your muscles.

Twisting to the side, pushing a bend or forcing any other positions that create discomfort will usually end up with some very nasty injuries. If your muscles feel any sort of pain, then stop doing anything that you are doing and find an alternative workout regimen to work with.

Do take note, however, that there is a difference between pain and burn. Burn is something that shows your muscles are getting shaped while pain is something sharper and indicative of possible injury.

Learn to differentiate between the two before pushing yourself into awkward angles.

Focus on repetitions Hundreds of repetitions do not define good ab workouts - it is the burn that you feel in the muscles.

The burn you feel in your abs is what makes your muscles stronger, and focusing on doing five or ten sets of a particular exercise will not be effective if there is no burn. Learn to make your workout sessions intense, and you will effectively build muscle over time.

Another issue with focusing on repetitions is that you tend to stay contented with 'finishing' a set number of repetitions rather than building up the burn. Your abs will require more effort the more developed they are, which is why you need to focus on intensity rather than repetition.

Let your belly get fat All the muscles in your abs will be for naught if there is a thick enough layer of fat covering them.

This is why it is important to mix bodybuilding workouts with weight-loss regimens. A balanced diet, frequent meals a day and cardiovascular workouts work well with abdominal exercises, so make sure to get rid of that fat if you want your abs to show themselves.

Keep these four no-nos in mind, and your ab workouts will be much more effective than you thought possible!

5 Common Myths about Abdominal Workouts

Many people dream of getting some really solid washboard abs, and they are willing to do a lot of things to reach that rippling physique via abdominal workouts.

There are, however, a lot of myths associated with such workout regimens - and they have the potential to cause injury if you do not correct them fast!

So without further ado, here are the five most common myths about abdominal workouts, plus the truth behind the myth:

"I will gain six-pack abs in a matter of days!" Muscle development takes time, and nothing you do will shorten it down to a couple of days.

In fact, you will to doggedly stick to your workout program for about a few weeks before you can even begin to notice any change in your body's physique. Anything faster than this is impossible, and pushing yourself to develop muscles by pumping iron three times for every day of the week is extremely dangerous for your health.

"I need specialized equipment to get six-pack abs!" Telemarketers will deny it, sports gyms will deny it, but the truth of the matter is that you can get sufficient abdominal workouts using only your body.

Air pedaling, plain crunches, vertical crunches, side crunches and any other exercise that contracts the abdominal muscles are sufficient for building abs. Specialized equipment may help you focus exercise on your abdominal muscles, but they are in no way necessary to build and shape your abs.

"I have to do x crunches, y presses and z lifts a day to get six-pack abs!" A common mistake people make when working out is to focus on repetition - not intensity.

Even a single set of intense crunches is more effective than ten sets of half-baked crunches. The mark of a good workout is the 'burn' that you feel when the muscles are stretched to their limits. Look for this burning sensation whenever you are working out, and you should be able to effectively sculpt your abs to perfection.

"I only need to focus on exercise to get six-pack abs!" Bodybuilding is as much about diet as it is exercise, which is why you need to watch out what you eat if you want your muscles to develop properly.

This is especially true for abdominal workouts, as even a slight layer of fat will cover the abs and prevent them from being visible. Mix in the health and living complications of a poor diet, and you will only put your own body in greater peril.

"I don't need to worry about my six-pack abs disappearing!" Oh, you better be worried - muscles can atrophy if they are not used, and this is especially true for well-developed muscles.

This is not a one-time thing that ends once you achieve your desired physique. You need to keep going at it for the rest of your life. Otherwise the muscles will begin to lose their original shape, sag down and totally ruin your sculpted body.

Make sure to bust these five myths about abdominal workouts, and you will be well on your way to safely, effectively and permanently sculpting the perfect set of six-pack abs!

Daily Routine for Six Pack Abs.

Daily routine for six pack abs.

Everyone out there willing to build up a lean and hot body is also excited and interested in making six pack abs. Six packs are very easy to make if one does not have a layer of fat on his tummy, but the exercise routine that will be discussed in this article is a type of buy one get one free. Yes! These exercises will transform your fat tummy in to ripped six packs and will also burn fat. So let's discuss these exercises.

1: Start by warming up your body to get maximum effect. For warming up to workouts are considered essential. First of all, stand still and take long breaths in and then release them out. Now put your hands and legs on the ground as if you are ready for a race. Now move each leg forward and backward a hundred times in each set as there are three sets which should be done correctly. During this workout you will feel stress in your lower abs which is the proof that your muscles are building up.

The second warm up exercise is also for your lower abs. What you have to do is stand straight and keep your tummy and chest tight .Now start jogging while standing at the same place. Do three sets, 30 seconds each.

2: The second workout is known as cycling. Lie down on your back and raise your legs up to 45 degrees, now move them in such a manner as if you are cycling. This will create stress on your abs and they will develop very rapidly. Your fat will also burn as your body is heated because of the warm up.

3: In this exercise lie down straight on your back and your legs should be straight. Raise your hands straight up in the air and touch them with your feet. Now go back in the previous position and raise your legs up to 40 degrees and again in the same position touch your feet. Then again. Do this exercise 3 times and 30 seconds each

4: Lie down on your back and raise your legs up to 45 degrees. Now touch both of your hands to your knees and then come back. Do this exercise three times and thirty seconds each.

5: Next workout is known as leg race and is very famous to obtain a flat tummy. What you have to do is lie straight on a bench and your legs should not be on the bench. Grab a strong support with your hands. Now move your legs up in the air to as much height as you can and make sure you are not bending them. Now move your legs down and then up again. Do this for 3 times and thirty seconds each.

6: Grab a chinning bar or a rod and hang on it. Now move your legs up straight and try not to move your body. This work out is very hard but once your body get addicted to this exercise it will be nothing for you.

Remember to be on a diet that does not contain fat in large quantities, instead eat foods with proteins and vitamins. Drink juices, a lot of water and try to eat less but healthy. If these workouts are done on daily basis and perfectly, they can bring awesome results within a month.

15 Unique Six Pack Abs Tricks

1. Eat every 2-4 hours and be certain to eat 5-7 small meals daily. Eating smaller meals more often is a surefire way to boost your metabolism and create a thermogenic effect inside the body. By combining lean protein with the correct types and amounts of green leafy vegetables, good carbs, and fats at the right times, you will super charge your metabolism and turn your body into a 24-7 fat burning machine.

2. Eat breakfast. This is the most valuable meal of the day. This will give your metabolism a daily jump start and keep your fat loss efforts on track all day.

3. Don't buy foods that are tempting. Keep foods like cookies, cakes, frozen pizzas, etc out of the house. You will be less likely to cheat this way.

4. Plan your meals in advance. By planning your meals in advance, you will have prepared healthy food to eat throughout the day and be less likely to grab something unhealthy if you get a food craving. To make things effortless, it is best to take one day of the week (typically on the weekend) and make all of your meals for the week.

5. Eat before you are hungry. If you wait until you are absolutely starving to eat, you will most likely end up overeating.

6. Shop the outside isles of the supermarket instead of the middle isles. Most of the fatty, processed, junk foods are kept in the middle isles.

7. Drink at least 80-100 ounces of water daily. Since our bodies are over 70% water, drinking water is essential for optimal health. Water helps prime the body for fat loss, as well as flush out harmful toxins. Not drinking enough can lead to a water imbalance in the body, which can increase your risk of disease.

8. Eliminate high-fructose corn syrup. Most carbohydrates cause the pancreas to produce insulin, which acts as a signal to the brain to halt you from feeling hungry. When you eat high fructose corn syrup however, the brain never gets this signal so you are more likely to overeat and gain weight. Also, foods with high fructose corn syrup are typically very low in nutritional value and VERY high in calories.

9. Stay away from sugar-free foods. Many of these foods have tons of calories and artificial ingredients. Consume Stevia sweetener instead ( www.Stevia.Com )

10. Pass up ALL processed and refined foods, even for cheat meals. Be extra careful to avoid white flour pasta, white bread, white sugar, and white rice. These types of foods have no nutritional value and do absolutely nothing good for your body.

13. Take a multi-vitamin. We generally don't get all of the vitamins and minerals we need from food so taking a multi-vitamin is a great way to ensure we get these essential nutrients.

14. Workout smarter not harder. In order to burn fat and develop six pack abs you must workout efficiently, so be sure to maintain maximum intensity and focus for the duration of the training session.

15. When doing cardio, stick to high-intensity, short-duration interval training. Skip the long boring 60 minute cardio sessions on the treadmill and trim that down into 15-20 minutes of high-intensity interval training.

Complete Abdominal workout

Everyone wants a tight, toned stomach. Books, infomercials and personal trainers repeat the mantra of crunches and fat loss ad nauseum, but this is really only a part of the picture. Abdominal crunches target the rectus abdominus muscle - the sheath of muscle that runs up the front of the abdomen. However, a complete abdominal workout should involve all three major muscles of the abdomen to achieve a tight silhouette, good posture and overall core strength.

The rectus abdominus is, of course, the superstar of the core muscles. It is the muscle that gives the 'six-pack abs' that are featured on the cover of every fitness magazine, and the muscle that is worked by most well-known abdominal exercises. Abdominal crunches, leg raises, pulley crunches and roman chair sit-ups all target the rectus abdominus. The rectus abdominus works in conjunction with the erector spinae in the lower back to give postural stability and strength.

Located to the side of the rectus abdominus are the external and internal oblique muscles. These muscles run diagonally from the sides to the mid-line of the body and adhere to the ribs. The oblique muscles are responsible for twisting and bending of the torso and for rib movement. The obliques should be worked in conjunction with the rectus abdominus to avoid muscle imbalances that could lead to painful muscle tears. The oblique muscles are best worked by any abdominal exercise that involves twisting motions, such as side crunches or twisting leg raises.

The least known and possibly most important of the abdominal muscles is the transverse abdominus, a sheath of muscle that runs across the front of the stomach and acts like a girdle to slim the overall silhouette and support the back muscles. The transverse abdominus is worked during any posture or movement that requires resistance to force or gravity. Yoga planks and isometric contraction are two great moves to work this important muscle.

A complete abdominal workout does not require a great deal of gym time, in fact, all the major abdominal muscles can be worked during commercial breaks, or while playing on the floor with a toddler. Taking the time to work all the abdominal muscles will not only improve posture and appearance, it will prevent back injury and, most importantly, enhance self-confidence.

Monday, 28 December 2009

Easy way to six pack abs

The primary matter that you need to memorize is that the belly muscles which build up your six pack are similar to some additional muscles in your entire body. They require A very much difficult task and high amount of exercises that drive them to the edge if you would like to see utmost definition and growth.

Lots of persons who are happy with keeping harmonized to appear healthy will locate that just doing chomps every day will attain what they desire. However, if you are really grave of receiving a six pack you are moving to must do an dreadful lot more to actually get rock tough six pack abs. In anticipation of, you found working out along with better intensity work outs, which really test your abs you would not observe the consequences you desire.

Here is What Everyone Should Be Performing

Do not drop into the similar aged trap that majority of people performs; in its place kick, the schedule of performing a number of crunches as we are moving to get your abdominal exercise to the coming stage and you are moving to study how to attain six pack abs!

Get going by making your abs workout stronger by performing them on an incline; perform the similar as you were performing on the ground but get your final set to breakdown, until you actually cannot perform any longer. As you get better regularly increase the prejudice you work out on and aspire to boost the quantity of reps you perform until letdown.

Once you have got mastery on this you can obtain on to the grave stuff. As incline chomps are a wonderful beginning, it is not there until you begin to utilize weights in your belly workouts that you will initiate to observe the consequences you desire. You can perform this by easily grasping a weight shield across your chest while you perform your abs exercise, but your requirement to construct it gradually. Performing weight teaching is actually helpful and will assist you construct the abs that majority of people dream off.

You will be Unsuccessful If You Do not perform it...

Nevertheless, if you do not uphold a hygienic diet, perform cardio vascular coaching and train your entire body, you would not obtain the six pack abs. It is the increasing result of all these facts that will provide you the abs according to your daydreams.

Do Not Be Bamboozled

Whatever thing, you perform to do not be drained into purchasing the abs equipments you perceive promoted on television; the base line is that persons with a hard solid six pack abs do not utilize them. Put your money aside for a fitness center association and be ready to train firm and live a hygienic lifestyle, teach yourself to the extent that feasible and attempt and go after a confirmed training program, only then will you obtain the abs of your daydreams.