Everyone would like a six-pack as it is the epitome of fitness, but you can still be extremely fit without one. A six-pack is not only skin deep, to exercise your ab muscles successfully you have to concentrate on the abdominal core. The core muscles run the length of the trunk and torso and help stabilize the pelvis, back, abdomen and shoulders. The best type of abs work out is one that concentrates on all of the core muscles.
These muscles are layered and connected, and overlap each other to work together in synergy. They keep the spine safe from injury and control movement in the torso. By exercising your core muscles during your abs work out you will be strengthening your whole torso, which in turn affects the movement and transfer of energy to your arms and legs.
Several exercises can be done to achieve an abs work out. This includes crunches, which can be done on a mat, exercise ball, or any other surfaces. Remember that you need to keep crunches controlled and slow. Always exhale when contracting your ab muscles.
Other exercises that improve the abs include the Plank and Side Plank, which are really good for strengthening the core muscles, back and abs. Side crunches concentrate on the oblique muscles that run down the side of the abdomen. By exercising these areas you will define and firm your waistline.
By regularly performing pelvic tilts, you can strengthen the muscles around your middle and lower back. This will effectively help with creating a flatter abdomen. You can also use back extension exercises to help lengthen and strengthen the muscles running along your spine. In turn this improves your posture and helps with back support.
Whenever you do an abs work out you need to remember to give your body time to recover and your muscles time to rebuild. This can range from twenty four to forty eight hours between sessions, depending on the intensity of your work out.
Other considerations include consulting your doctor before adopting a new fitness regime if you have any injuries or illnesses, controlling the amount of calories you consume, and adopting a high protein diet. Always warm up before performing an abs work out to ensure you do not strain any muscles. Only rest for a minute between exercises to maintain the aerobic benefits and keep your metabolism high.
We have many good ab workouts that you may think of as useful. There are abs work out plans that may fit in with your routine. Surely, you may like what we have to tell you.