subject: Understanding Abdominal Core Workout Routines [print this page] Your core is your back, your hips and your abdominal muscles. This is the source of all your physical strength. But, unfortunately most people ignore it in order to work their arms and legs. When they do decide to work their core it is usually some lame attempt like sit ups, crunches or hopping on the ab machine. However, these exercises isolate your abdominal muscles and really do not work your core like it was meant to be worked as a stabilizer for the muscles of the outer extremity, your arms and legs.
Today let us look more closely at your core and how to work it.
Ever see someone wearing a weight lifting belt? I have. I have worn one myself. However, after I learned the truth about abs I stopped. This is because it prevents your abdominal muscles from doing what nature intended for them to do, serve as your bodys own weight belt. This is because your abdominal muscles must act to keep the body in balance while you are doing the exercises that I am about to tell you about.
When working with a barbell, the best exercises to do for your abs and core muscles do not even look like they are targeting your bodys core however they are. These are exercises like the clean and jerk, squat, the dead lift and others. When you are doing these exercises you are using your entire body, numerous muscle groups from your legs to your arms and shoulders. But, you are also working your core and your abs in specific because, as I explained above, the muscles of your core act as stabilizers for the rest of your body when it is in action.
To really work the core even more effectively you should use a kettlebell. This device looks like a cannonball with a handle and, because of its design can be swung through the legs. It may not sound like swinging a weight between your legs would do a lot and, I must admit, when I first saw it I was skeptical. However, within just a few swings I was winded and a few more I could really feel it working my abs, hips and back.
By performing this simple exercise you are going to be strengthening your core so that the rest of your body will actually be stronger. Because the swinging brings an added cardiovascular benefit that is not usually found in weight lifting you can also burn up to 20 calories a minute and even lose up to 1% of body fat a week.
