Before we can do anything we need to look at how we are eating. Nutrition is the first step to getting a razor sharp abs. The worst thing that you can do for a set of hard abs is to eat sugar or any processed carbohydrates. In just a few short days you can lose a good percentage of body fat by just eliminating fried food, fruits juices, sports drinks and soda as well as fast food.
The best way to get a set of tight abs is to focus on full body training and circuit routinees that burn more fat. Crunches just hurt you back and research even shows that they are not effective at all for building a strong and tight core. Crunches aren't helpful and neither is slow and boring cardio that is useless for fat loss. If we are after a hard stomach then we need to stay far away from these two things.
Australian research has shown that the best way to get rid of stubborn stomach fat is with interval training. This same research has shown that interval training burns a greater percentage of body fat than slow cardio training.
Abdominal workouts should only begin after you are training hard with full body routines and you are eating right. Some interesting things that you may not know about abs are:
If you are new to ab training the last thing that you should do is jump into crunches and leg raises. Get strong at movements like planks, side planks, dead bugs and birddogs first. These movements will make your ab training so much more effective later on. You want to do core movements that will get you healthy and strong.
Once you've progressed from a beginner to an intermediate then you can start performing more challenging moves like
-Reverse Bent Knee Crunches
-Plank on a stability ball or foam roller, which has been shown to be safer on the back and better on the abs, then a traditional plank
-Stability ball rollouts, which absolutely hits every single ab muscle that you have.
From here you can start training with some unknown ab movements. These movements work multiple muscles but really work the abs hard.
-Barbell Deadlift
-Feet elevated on stability ball push-up
-Hands on stability ball push-up
-Dumbbell pull over
-Lying triceps dumbbell extension
-Front Squat
So the question is now what can you do to really bring out those hard abs? So what's the best way to get your abs to really show? the answer is to train them with weight and stop doing all the crunches that you have been doing. My favorite move is weighted stability ball crunches. This move is without a doubt the absolute best way you can really get those abs to show. Crunches are not needed to get a set of tight abs. Stop wasting your time and start working towards a set of tight abs with proven and effective training methods. You just need to focus on proper nutrition, full body exercises and interval training cardio. That's the recipe for success.
Copyright (c) 2007 Jimmy Smith
You cannot spot reduce anywhere on your body. You can spot tone your muscles in the area you are targeting, but you cannot spot reduce.
Here's an example. Look at your belly in a relaxed mode. Now suck in your stomach muscles.
Your pot belly is pretty much gone. Did you suddenly lose weight in that area?
Of course not! The same thing happens when you begin to properly exercise your ab muscles. The muscles become stronger and pull in the unsightly girth. Your abs look tighter and you look better, but unless you have actually lost weight overall, you have not actually lost any fat in that area.
To lose fat in the abs, you must lose weight overall. To make your abs look slimmer and sexier, you must develop the ab muscles.
One of the best pieces of exercise equipment you can purchase is an exercise ball, also called a swiss ball. Every time you do exercises on this ball, your ab muscles come into play. The abs are working to keep the ball steady and to keep you from falling off.
You can easily do two of the following exercises on the ball and increase the effectiveness.
1. The Bicycle
This has been proven to be one of the most effective ab exercises you can do. You cannot do this one on the ball.
Lie on your back with your hands behind your head. Lift your legs off the ground and raise your shoulders a couple inches off the floor.
Do not pull your neck with your hands. Push your lower back tight to the floor. Bring your left leg towards your chest while rotating your right elbow to touch your left knee.
Don't strain. As you return to the starting position, begin bringing your right knee in and rotate your left elbow to touch your right knee.
Work up to twenty repetitions each leg. Do them slowly.
2. Crunch
You are probably familiar with this one. Lay on your back with either your hands behind your head or on your chest. Legs are in a V-shape with your feet flat on the floor.
Once again push your lower back tight to the floor. Begin to raise your head and shoulders off the floor, tightening your ab muscles. Do not pull on your neck. You are only raising your shoulders a few inches off the ground.
At the top of the movement, hold for about one second, then return and repeat. Work to twenty repetitions. This is excellent on the exercise ball!
3. The Plank
Lie on your stomach. Feet are straight and close together. Push off the floor, raising up on your toes and your elbows. Keep your back straight and tighten your ab muscles. Hold for thirty seconds. Return and repeat for three to five repetitions.
Again, this exercise is excellent on the exercise ball.
Do these three exercises at least five days a week and the ab muscles will tighten up and you will look and feel great.
Both Jimmy Smith & Ian Williamson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jimmy Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Religion, Build Muscle and Fitness. Jimmy Smith is the author of the best selling fat loss program He specializes in teaching people how to lose stubborn fat quickly an. Jimmy Smith's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Ian Williamson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar, History and Sports Car. For More by Ian Williamson please visit. Ian Williamson's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.