There is a scientific sequence to effectively shaping and creating great abs.
Everybody wants a six pack, including you. It is probably the most
sought after goal and hoped result of working out. Working toward great
abdominal muscles, not only looks great, but cuts your risk of injury
and improves your performance in everyday life. Not only are rock hard
abs a symbol of fitness, but strong and flexible abdominal muscles help
trim your waist and end back pain.
Two very important health goals of many who enter an exercise facility.
It allows you to move from side to side with stability and control. Men
and women want to walk on the beach and show off all their hard work by
exposing their abs. From what has been seen in gym and health
facilities, it is most worked on muscle group or it is the most
neglected. What category do you end up falling into? There are many
ways in which you can work you abdominal muscles. There is a scientific
sequence to effectively shaping and creating great abs.
Most people are stronger in their upper to middle abdominals compared
to their lower abdominal muscles. It is recommended that you work your
lower abs first since you are freshest and have the most energy to get
the most out of your stomach. The abdominal muscles react and provide
optimal results visually when performed to failure. Failure occurs when
the muscle is thoroughly exhausted and the exercise can no longer be
executed. This means you can not do one more painful repetition. Your
mid-section should be worked in this manner all the time.
Some examples for lower abs are as follows:
The reverse crunch (using the slant board) - with your hand holding the
bars and your legs straight on the floor, raise your knees to your
face, while bending your knees, until the fetal position. Then slowly
drop your rear end until you touch the board and repeat the exercise.
Leg lifts (performed on the Roman Chair) - Start with your back on the
back support and lift your knees/legs to its highest point. Feet should
not be allowed to swing behind your rear end at its lowest point for
safety and momentum purposes.
Hanging leg raises (performed on the cable machines) - Start by hanging
from the middle pull up bar on the cable machines. The hanging leg
raise is probably the most result producing stomach exercise since it
is generated from the lower abs and then incorporated the upper abs at
its peak. It begins by having your feet lift over and above your waist
until it reached approximately where your hands are holding on.
Remember to keep you body from swinging back and forth. This will cause
you to use more stomach muscles and less momentum.
Then proceed to your upper/middle abs to get that desired burn.
The Ab Roller, which is great for upper abdominals and obliques, is
great to start with since it promotes safety and immediate results.
Exercises utilizing the ball and floor mats are great ways to end a
stomach workout. The utility ball allows for maximum stretching to hit
all areas of the mid-section.
Since your stomach is considered your smallest muscle, you are able -
and recommended to - train them up to 6 days per week. A cardiovascular
work out which consist of constant aerobic activity which last for more
than 30 minutes at your 80% target heart rate is extremely beneficial
and necessary to achieve that ever desired six pack.
Great abs are only obtained through hard work, perseverance and proper
form. They are the central point in which your motion begins and ends.
In the end, great abs will give you the needed support for your workout
and your life.
Christopher Guerriero, is the founder of the National Metabolic &
Longevity Research Center and a best-selling author, speaker, and coach
to millions. He is creator of the award-winning 'Maximize Your
Metabolism' system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and
to sign up for FREE how-to articles and FREE teleseminars, visit: Maximize Your Metabolism.