subject: 2 Keys for Better Abs – Jettison the Myths and Use a Body Cleanse Program [print this page] 2 Keys for Better Abs Jettison the Myths and Use a Body Cleanse Program
There is, and always has been, a swarm of myths buzzing around in the fitness world. They range from the innocuous and slightly annoying to the counterproductive and positively detrimental. If, however, you're aware of these myths and jettison the worst of them, as well as adding to your fitness regimen a sound body cleanse program, you'll be well on your way to a healthier, better-looking body.
One of the most widespread of these myths concerns abdominal exercises. Everyone wants better absmaybe not the washboard, bodybuilder kind, but at least a flatter stomach with visible abdominal muscles. Go to any gym, and what do see? Invariably, you'll see bunch of people curling dumbbells and almost as many scattered all over the floor doing their crunches with intense concentration. They've been told, repeatedly, that crunches are the ticket to great abs. But that's just . . . wrong.
First of all, the range of motion is just too limited. Look at all those folks making those bizarre movements on the gym floor: at best they are flexing their abdominal muscles, moving chest toward pelvis, two to three inches. And that's just not enough to get much benefit out of it. Second, crunches, simply put, aren't hard enough. There's not enough load on the muscle, and it's difficult to add any more weight or resistance. And, third, crunches work only a small area of that group of muscles we call "abs."
A much better exercise choice for getting better abs would be hanging leg raises or decline (weighted if you can do it) sit ups. Another good one is using that funny-looking little wheel with a handle on each side, the ab wheel, you see at Wal-Mart and sometimes on late-night infomercials. The range of motion with these exercises is much greater than with crunches, so you immediately get more bang for your sweat. Further, they are harder, which means there is more load on the muscles, making them stronger and more visible. And as you progress and develop more skill and strength, you can easily increase the load with these exercises. For example, with hanging leg raises, you will probably begin by bringing your knees to your chest.
