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Posts Tagged ‘Abdominal Crunch’

Using Resistance Bands in Abdominal Exercises

November 25th, 2009

Using resistance bands can be an effective component of any workout routine, and abdominal exercises are no exception. There are a number of exercises targeting the midsection that incorporate resistance bands. Resistance bands come in a variety of difficulties, usually indicated by the color of the band itself (e.g., green can be little resistance, yellow may be medium, red for difficult, etc.). Choose a resistance level that is appropriate for you, then move up as necessary. Do not overdo it by immediately grabbing the most advanced band you can find, as this can lead to injury. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Seated Crunch

This exercise provides the same benefits as the basic abdominal crunch, but with less neck strain and without the possible discomfort that comes with lying on the floor, since it uses a band rather than gravity to provide resistance. For this abdominal exercise, you will need to be sitting in a straight back chair which you can somehow loop your band through. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and about as wide apart as your hips. Contract your abdominal muscles, and slowly bend forward to about a forty-five degree angle. Repeat for an entire set. Be sure to keep your feet on the floor and your back as straight as possible.

One-Arm Band Pull

Put the chair away and stand up, again with feet hip width apart. Put your hands above your head, holding the band about eighteen inches apart. Keeping your left hand overhead, bring your right hand out to the side, elbow bent at about a ninety degree angle. Hold your left arm still as you contract your abdominals and lower your right arm until your hand is in line with your chest. Hold this position, then slowly return. Repeat for an entire set, then switch hands. Keep your back straight and avoid bending or leaning at the waist. For an additional challenge, do this exercise standing on one foot. Perform the exercise with both hands while standing on your left foot, then do it all again on your right foot.

Twisting Roll-Back

For this abdominal exercise, you will need to sit on a flat surface, preferably the floor. Use a mat or towel for cushioning to ease possible strain on your tail bone. Sit down with your legs bent and heels on the floor. Your toes should be pointing up– do not put your feet flat on the floor. Loop the band around your feet, put one end in each hand and put your hands together. In a rolling motion, lower your torso toward the floor about forty-five degrees. As you do this, twist to the right and spread your hands to the sides. Hold for a second, then rotate back to the middle and raise your torso back to start. Your heels should remain on the floor throughout the exercise. Do a full set, then switch to the left side.

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Simplest and Popular Challenging Abdominal Fitness Blast Exercise

November 5th, 2009

 

Probably the Ab blast exercise is simplest, and most popular, abdominal exercise is the crunch. The four basic mechanisms of blast injury are termed primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. Primary blast injuries occur as a result of the blast shock wave. The purpose of this study was to model the response of the thoraco-abdominal system to underwater-blast waves. The effort focused on the dynamics of submersed gas bubbles because previous studies had shown that most injuries occurred to the gas-containing organs and the immediately adjacent tissues. Experiments were conducted to obtain data for use as input in the development of a model.

In order for an abdominal exercise to be at all effective it should be performed in a specific recruitment pattern or sequence. Consider the following training recipe when designing your next core/abdominal exercise routine and have a “BLAST” awakening and redefining your center of power!

Base: the base of support should be stable especially in the beginning. The greater the surface area that you occupy when performing the exercise the more stable the exercise feels, the less demanding it will become. A curl up performed with feet on the floor is less challenging than performing the abdominal curl with both feet in the air.

Levers: once stability in the base is achieved then a lever can be altered to increase the level of difficulty. A longer lever away from the core increases the load to the core thus demanding greater recruitment for these muscles. Recall how much more challenging a hover is when performed from the toes vs. the knees.

Action: once the levers are added successfully you are ready to introduce additional activity or movement. This can be achieved by incorporate diagonal, rotational and planar movements’ ie- rotation, diagonal patterns that cross the midline etc.

Surface: it is important to consider the use of moveable surfaces, underneath the exercising participant ie-Stability ball, a BOSU board, a Reebok CORE board. Research shows that performing curl up exercises on moveable surfaces increases all abdominal muscle activity especially that of the external obliques. Research shows that performing curl ups on moveable surfaces changes both the level of muscle activity and the way in which the muscles co-activate to stabilize the spine and whole body

Time: taken to perform each exercise/repetition. Consider ‘total time’ vs number of repetitions. A hover performed once and held for 20 seconds will lead to greater ‘useable’ strength than an abdominal curl performed 20 times. Consider slowing down even an abdominal curl and reducing the repetitions. Focus on the breath and recruitment of the deeper abdominal musculature first before you even introduce movement. Make the movement mean something.

If it’s five pack abs that you’re after, daily Abdominal blast exercise are the key to reaching your goal. There are a variety of effective abdominal exercises that you can try out to find which one is best for you. Or, for maximum results, you can combine a few different abdominal exercises or alternate between your favorites. Some people like to place their fingertips to the sides of the head, just behind the ears, while others like to do crunches with their arms crossed over their chest. Please visit and purchase online http://www.soundbodytrainer.com in NewYork city.

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ARE ALL DIETS AND WORKOUTS FOR EVERYONE?

October 8th, 2009

ADSENSE CODE #3

When it comes to getting in shape and losing weight, one size definitely does not fit all. Even the most carefully designed diets and exercise programs do not have the same results for everybody who tries them. Sometimes starting a workout routine or a special diet without knowing what kind of exercises suit you best and what kinds of foods your body needs can do more damage than good. 

CUSTOM-MADE EXERCISE ROUTINES

The best way to figure out what exercises work for you, is to first get to know your own body.

What kind of strength do you have?

Do not start lifting dumbbells that are half your own body weight as of day one. You will most likely pull a muscle or worse. Do not run for three miles uphill if you have not done track since high school, you could give yourself a heart attack! Always remember your fitness level when starting out; if you overdo any exercise just because you are eager to get rid of those extra pounds fast, you could really hurt yourself. Tame your eagerness and start off soft and slow; build up your exercise routine over time.

How is your overall health?

It is not only a question of age. A 70 year old man who has exercised and lived healthy for most of his life can certainly outrun a 20 year old whose idea of exercise is lifting a cheeseburger off the plate.

If you have any medical conditions it really is in your best interest to consult your doctor before starting any workout. Ask tour trainer or personal instructor the names of the exercises he or she suggests you perform, Here are some of the most common exercises for losing weight:

Long Arm Crunch

Reverse Crunch

Plank (Hover) Exercise

Traditional (Basic) Abdominal Crunch

Half Curl

Crossover Crunch

Seated Oblique Twists with Medicine Ball

Oblique Crunch

Bicycle Crunch Exercise

Abs Crunch on an Exercise Ball

Ball Crunch

Give your doctor a list or a video if available and according to your medical history, your physician can tell you which exercises are best for you. For example, people with a heart condition need to be extra careful with cardiovascular exercises and those with gastric problems such as GERD need to watch out for hard abdominal workouts. Always let your doctor be your guide.

HEALTHY DIETS

As with exercise, the right diet for you should be based on your metabolism, fat content, muscle build and bone structure. Most importantly do not starve yourself! It will not only leave you without energy but it can lead to more serious psychological problems and you will drive your friends crazy with your mood changes.

Remember, too much of anything is not good. A diet where you only eat celery or pineapple for two weeks is not the answer to fat loss. Well balanced meals made especially for your metabolism can help you lose weight without having to take drastic measures on the foods you like.

The heaviest meal of the day should be breakfast, to refuel your body, and your lightest meal should be dinner, as you do not spend much energy while you sleep. Instead of eating big meals, you might want to try having 4 or 5 smaller meals. This will help you get rid of that nasty snacking habit.

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Building Abdominals: Fact and Fiction

September 30th, 2009

“One of the biggest misconceptions that people make is that they need to work five or six days a week to get their abs looking good. They also think they have to perform 15 sets. In reality, the muscles are like any other muscle group that needs to recover from any type of workout in order to make progress. Your ab workout shouldn’t take you more than 12-15 minutes, three days a week.”

Too often, people try to flatten their bellies the wrong way. They do just one exercise–often an abdominal crunch–over and over and over again. This is not an efficient way to tone your belly!

Abdominal crunches work only one area of your abdomen–the part along the front of your belly above the belly button. Unfortunately, this happens to be the one area of the stomach that’s often strongest for most people. So, crunches simply make an already strong area of the abdomen even stronger, ignoring important weak spots that are the true source of your problem.

The ABS are actually more than just one muscle. The abdominal muscle group is made up of the oblique muscles (internal and external), the abdominus rectus and the hidden transverse abdominus.

The obliques are thin muscles that form a continual wrap around the torso, enclosing your bony structures and internal organs in a protective support. Unfortunately, even the most developed obliques can be hidden under layers of fatty love handles.

The rectus abdominus is what forms the classic and sought after six-pack. It attaches the sternum and ribs to the pelvis. Buried beneath the rectus is the transverse abdominus, which remains virtually unseen, but acts as a girdle to flatten your midsection. Fat, however, can mask the most developed muscles.

Abs crunch:

1.Lay on the ground with your legs bent and your feet flat. Do not pull from your arms, keep your focus on your abdominal muscles. Remember, this is an abdominal crunch not a sit up.

2. Keep your abdominal muscles tight, neck straight and chest up.

3. From your sternum, crunch your weight up and forward.

4. Your lower back should remain flat on the ground at all times.

5. Under control, lower your weight, stop just before your shoulders touch the ground and reverse the motion back up.

Muscles benefited: Abs (rectus abdominis).

1. Lay on the ground with your legs straight and your hands underneath your bottom.

2. Keep your abdominal muscles tight with your head and lower back flush on the ground.

3. Pull your legs up and back to a 90° angle from the ground. Do not lock out your knees and keep your focus on your abdominal muscles.

4. Your lower back should remain flat on the ground at all times

5. Lower your legs, stop just before your feet touch the ground and reverse the motion back up. Muscles benefited: Abs (rectus abdominis).

The Bicycle exercise is the best move to target the rectus abdominis (i.e., the ’six pack’) and the obliques (the waist), according to a study done by the American Council on Exercise.

To do this exercise correctly:

1. Lie face up on the floor and lace your fingers behind your head.

2. Bring the knees in towards the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the ground without pulling on the neck.

3. Straight the left leg out to about a 45-degree angle while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.

4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.

5. Continue alternating sides in a ‘pedaling’ motion for 12-16 reps.

The Captain’s Chair is the second most effective move for the rectus abdominis as well as the obliques and can be found in most health clubs and gyms.

To do it right:

1. Stand on chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body.

2. Press your back against the pad and contract the abs to raise the legs and lift knees towards your chest.

3. Don’t arch the back and remember to breathe smoothly.

4. Slowly lower back down and repeat for 12-16 reps.

The exercise ball is an excellent tool to strengthen the abs and comes out number three for working the rectus abdominis.

To do it right:

1. Lie face-up with the ball resting under your mid/lower back.

2. Cross your arms over the chest or place them behind your head.

3. Contract your abs to lift your torso off the ball, pulling the bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips.

4. As you curl up, keep the ball stable (i.e., you shouldn’t roll).

5. Lower back down, getting a stretch in the abs, and repeat for 12-16 reps.

Your abdominal workout should be carried out 2-3 days a week; it takes approximately 12-15 minutes from start to finish, so you can’t complain that it takes too much time off your agenda. You should change your routine approximately every 8 weeks because the targeted muscles will gradually get used to the movement and it will no longer be effective.

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Abdominal Crunche Workout

September 22nd, 2009

ADSENSE CODE #5

Abdominal Crunche Workout

Fat covering your abdominals

The workout of abs needs to be combined with a well balanced diet to get any real results, doing this will help you remove any fat covering your abdominals. The solution to getting flat abs then is to do abdominal workouts on a regular basis combined with a good diet.  

Abdominal workouts recommendation

I would recommend that you aim to work up to 20 reps of the following ab workout, but feel free to do more if you feel up to it. Doing as many as you can with this exercise is ok and remembers that it’s also part of okay to feel the burn.Here is a great beginner abdominal workouts to help get you started on the path the having the amazing abs you want. This is a good abdominal workout if you are just starting out or looking for a new workout to try out.

  

Crunches

 

A crunch exercises is when you lift your upper body – head, shoulders, and upper back, But your lower back stays on the floor.

 

The crunch has replaced the sit up as the most popular abdominal exercise. The crunch movement mostly works the upper abdomen. There are many variations of the crunch.

 

Lie on your back on a mat with your knees bent Feet hip width apart and drat on the floor at comfortable distance from your rear. You may need to experiment to find a good spot for your feet, Cross your arms in front of you, with hands on your opposite shoulders.

•1)     For Tighten your stomach and lift your head, neck and chest up as one unit.

•·        Lift your shoulder blades off the floor.

•·        Concentrate on pulling your chest down towards your hips.

•·        Keep your gluts relaxed and a neutral spine position.

•·        Exhale as you lift up and old for a count of ten.

 

•2)     Slowly lower down to the floor while inhaling

 

•3)     Work up to one set of 20

 

The author of the website www.rocklikeabs.com,is dedicated to educating people on how to get better, more toned and developed abdominal muscles.

 

To learn more about obliques workouts simply visit abdominal workout today for help getting your abs in shape.

 

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