Choosing the right abdominal exercises isn't the only thing you have to
to get a six pack. More important, you have to you work diligently at
your diet, staying with a fat burning, muscle building nutrition and
exercise plan 365 days a year.
Training to develop abs is one of the most misunderstood fitness concepts. Here are the top five myths about building abs:
1)You can "spot reduce" the fat on your abs by doing more sets and/or harder exercises.
Regardless of the number of crunches or more advanced ab exercises you
do you will not get rid of the fat on your abs alone. When you do
crunches you are working the ab muscles under the fat. Most ab
exercises burn few calories and these few calories do not just come off
your ab fat. The energy burned comes off equally from every fat cell in
your body.
2)You don't need to watch what you eat.
Diet is the first and foremost factor in trying to get a six pack. You
must acheive a very low percentage of body fat to see your ab muscles
from under the fat layer. Ab exercises burn few calories so you must
adhere to a fat burning, muscle building workout routine on a regular
basis.
3)You must work your abs everday and for a long duration.
Your abs should be worked out just like every other muscle group. Three
times a week for 10-15 minutes is plenty. Working your abs for 30-40
minutes does not effectively build your abs. Group fitness classes
called "Ab Burner" or "Abs of Steel" which do continuous abs for 30
minutes are also a waste of time.
4) TV commercials or magazine ads can will help you get that six pack.
There are dozens of home ab machines that make superior ab claims. Most
of these have been tested and studies found the traditional moves like
crunches, oblique cross overs and reverse curls were much more
effective. Even health clubs have some ab machines that can't hold a
candle to the more traditional exercises.
5)Form is not important as long as you do millions of reps.
It is important to do all reps with good form. Think quality, not
quantity. Avoid full sit ups and too many crunches as both can injure
the lower back.
In summary, think great nutrition, low percentage of body fat,
quality over quantity, work the abs only a few times a week for a short
time, avoid ab machines and follow an overall mass gaining, fat losing
exercise program.
About the Author
Dr. Lanny Schaffer is an Exercise Physiologist and the President of The
International Fitness Academy, For more cutting edge training
information go to http://www.aerobic-exercise-coach.com
