The Two Biggest Lies About Abdominal Training by:Dan Farrell
If you have ever read a fitness magazine...
If you have ever watched TV ads about latest machines that will "magically" reveal your abs...
If you have ever gone to a gym and seen tens of people lying on the floor doing crunches....
Then beware - because chances are you are a victim of the two biggest abdominal training hoaxes!
Hoax # 1
Just doing some midsection exercises can reduce your "love handles".
Fact:
You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your body just by using exercise alone. The abdominal area is no exception.
So, if you want to get a flat stomach and reveal your abs, losing the fat covering them is the way to go.
The only way to do this is to lose fat proportionately from your entire body by burning more calories than you consume.
How? By doing these two things:
1) Have a healthy and balanced permanent diet: dark green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole wheat and whole grain products, non-fat dairy products, fish, poultry breast, lean red meat, egg white.
You should cut out all sugar, soda, non-whole grain products and saturated fats: These aliments should only be a reward for achieving a goal, not a habit!
2) Start exercising
Aerobic and weight training will raise your metabolic rate. In result, your body will burn more calories.
* aerobic exercising
3 times per week, conduct an exercise that keeps your heart rate elevated for at least 30-45 minutes (ex: walking, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc)
* weight training
Alternate days of aerobics with weight training. You will build muscles that will burn more calories, even when at rest!
Hoax # 2
You have to do tons of crunches.
Fact:
Overuse of crunches will only shorten your abs, pull your head forward, and give you bad posture. Do you really want to look like Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?
Any standing exercise that will contract your abs will do, but you should specifically target your lower back to strengthen the muscles that support your spine.
The easiest exercise is sucking the gut in, also known as the "stomach vacuum"...
1. Exhale. Suck in your gut.
2. Maintain the contraction for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Repeat 10 to 15 times, as often as you like throughout the day (...while in the shower, sitting at your desk, while driving, etc.).
Time now for YOU to take action!
PS: Do not forget to consult your doctor before starting any diet and exercise plan.
Copyright 2005 MHG Consulting
About the author
Dan Farrell is owner of
http://www.weight-loss-exercises.info and
http://www.4maximumhealth.com... The Weight Loss Primer.
Aspartame Causes Cancer in Rats by:Rita Jenkins A Primer on Human Cloning—How, Why, and Why Not? (Part 1) by:Lisa J. Lehr A Primer on Human Cloning—How, Why, and Why Not? (Part 2) by:Lisa J. Lehr Top 5 Ways To Diagnose Acid Reflux Disease by:John Mancini The 5 Best Tips To Help Spot General Anxiety Disorder by:John Mancini 5 Tips To Combat Bad Breath by:John Mancini 5 Things You May Not Know About Bariatric Surgery by:John Mancini 5 Tips To Coping With Bipolar Disorder by:John Mancini Top 5 Tips For Cerebral Palsy Care by:John Mancini 5 Facts About Adult Acne by:John Mancini Top 5 Facts About Skin Tags by:John Mancini Aromatherapy Candles - Set The Mood by:Sanji Gretta Aromatherapy Massage Oils by:Sanji Gretta