By working your bodies' larger muscle groups, you increase overall muscle mass, which in turn boosts your metabolism. You can't spot reduce body fat, so if you want a flat tummy and toned abs, you need to work your entire body and aim towards total fitness. To achieve this you should concentrate on multiple joint movements working your larger muscle groups such as - quads and hamstrings (front and back of thighs), buttocks, back, chest, and shoulders. The smaller muscle groups consist of the triceps, biceps, calves, hips, forearms and abs.
The reason to work the abs at the end of your daily workout is twofold:
First, the abdominal muscles are naturally used when working other muscle groups. Second and most important is the fact that the abs help keep your form stabilized. By working your stomach muscles first, they will grow fatigued by the time you work your larger muscle groups, decreasing the effectiveness of the latter workouts. This is why professional fitness trainers recommend working from the larger muscle groups down to the smallest. It's the quickest road to gaining six pack abs!
Let's take a look at the basic muscle groups:
Lower Torso: Buttocks, Legs (thighs and calves), Hips
Since your reading this article to get "super sexy six-pack abs" let's look at some specific exercises for the abdominal muscles that will help you achieve a flat tummy after working your other body parts properly:
Crunches - This is a great exercise, but most people do them wrong. Remember to keep your back straight and head up. Also as you progress you will need to add weight to up the intensity.
Twisting Crunches - This exercise will work your obliques or the sides of your stomach. Again for those who may already have somewhat developed abs, you'll need to add weights to this exercise to increase the intensity.
Leg Raises - Another great exercise for developing six pack abs! Make sure you have a slight bend in your knees and your head is slightly raised. Once again you will need to add weight to this exercise as you progress.
Cable Crunches - This a great exercise and should be done by anyone who wants a flat tummy. Make extra sure you use proper form.
Remember, concentrating soley on you abs and ignoring the rest of you muscle groups will only lead to disappointment on your journey to sculpting six pack abs.
The Six Pack Abs
The key to fat burning is to make the heart pump harder and burn as many calories as you can. This means that you must use every possible muscle in the body in order to get the job done.
You can join aerobics, do jumping jacks, or any number of things but theres a new way that is not only good as a fat burner its also a whole lot of fun! Keeping the exercise fun, keeps you exercising. Try using the fitness ball, also known as the stability ball. There is a good reason for the second name.
It will test your stability both physically and mentally if you let it. You can also target specific areas, just like aerobics, as you get the cardio workout.
Abdominal Roll
Of course the name gives away the target area, its the abs. This exercise gets you closer to a six-pack thats attractive on both men and women. Its a form of the crunch. Lie on your back and put the ball between your thighs, keep it in place with the knees.
Touch the top of the ball with the fingertips and then roll your shoulders off the floor. Hold the position and slowly roll back down, one vertebra at a time.
Another similar exercise that is a great deal of fun but also difficult to do is a total crunch with the stability ball. Lay straight out with the ball between your hands above your head and your legs in a V. Lift the ball at the same time you lift your feet and head, and pass the ball to your feet.
Then lower your head, arms and body. Lift the ball up with the feet at the same time you raise your head and arms and pass it back to the hands. Its a tough work out!
Seated Wall Roll
This one targets the glutes, the hamstrings and the quadriceps. You need a wall for this one and a clear area. Place the ball between your back and the wall as you lean against the wall. Keep your feet shoulder width apart and lined up with the hips. Begin a squat as you roll the ball down the wall. Once you hit the chair position raise slowly and roll the ball back up the wall.
Opposite Limb Extension
This ones another good one for buns of steel. It targets not just the glutes but also the lower back, the hamstrings and tests your balance. Lay on your stomach on the fitness ball and with your arms and legs extended and toes and fingertips touching the floor. Keep your body straight and your head in line with your body, face the floor.
Begin by lifting your right arm and alternate leg, the left one, at the same time. Hold for a count of three on four put them back down and do the left arm, right leg combination in the same manner. Begin with 4 repetitions minimum, but if you can do more, do 8. Work your way up until you double that number.
Balanced Push Up (Hands on the Ball)
Heres where you notice how hard the fitness ball is, but its also what makes it so much fun! You focus on staying on the ball and forget about how tough the exercise is on your muscles.
When you stabilize yourself on the ball, you use the abdominal muscles and the back muscles, whether you realize it or not. This is another six-pack exercise, which also works the shoulders and triceps.
Both James Scott & Steve Hochman 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.
James Scott has sinced written about articles on various topics from belly fat, Fitness and Fitness. Stop being disappointed you don't have Brad Pitt's or Keira Knightley's abs and start doing something about it! Get your free report which details 27 unique methods for boosting your metabolism and burning belly fat -. James Scott's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Steve Hochman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Fitness and Marketing. Steve Hochman is the founder and CEO of Next Level Fitness. O.C.'s fastest way for you to get fit.
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