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Posts Tagged ‘Abdominal Exercise’

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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Abdominal Exercise Alternatives To Crunches

November 23rd, 2009

If you want to work your abdominal muscles but hate crunches on the floor, you’re in luck because there are so many alternatives to traditional crunches on the floor.  This article outlines 5 of my favorite alternatives to crunches.

When my clients master crunches on the floor, one of the first exercises I teach them from there are crunches on the ball.  So many people actually feel less back strain and neck strain when they use a stability ball for crunches.  One reason for decreased neck strain is that the angle of your body changes when you get off the floor and onto the ball.  If neck discomfort is one reason you hate crunches on the floor try them on the ball and you will notice a significant difference.

Another reason crunches on the ball are a great alternative to crunches on the floor is an increased range of motion through the spine.  When you move through a greater range of motion, you will get increased muscle work in your abdominals.

The second alternative to crunches on the floor is the plank exercise.  The plank exercise is a popular yoga move that has crossed over into fitness.  The plank is an isometric exercise balancing on your elbows and toes.  Isometric simply means that you hold one position for 10-60 seconds.  The plank is great for developing core stability, and it will strengthen your abdominals, shoulder girdle, and hip girdle.

The third alternative to crunches on the floor is seated medicine ball Russian twists.  In the seated twists, your knees are bent and your body is slightly reclined.  By reclining, you engage your abs.  Another benefit of the seated position is that there is very little stress on your neck.  If you are a beginner, it is okay to perform seated twists with no added resistance, or if you’d like a challenge use a medicine ball or weight to this exercise.

The fourth alternative to crunches on the floor is side bends on a 45 degree hyper extension board.  Most gyms have a slanted board that can be used for both back extensions and side bends.  Side bends help to strengthen the obliques and can really challenge your oblique muscles through a large range of motion.  I’d recommend side bends over side crunches on the floor because of the increased range of motion and intensity.

The fifth alternative to crunches is hanging knee raises on a Captain’s Chair.  Again, when you get off the floor you’ll have almost no pressure on the neck.  In order to perform knee raises on the Captain’s Chair you need to have some upper body strength to support yourself, but if you have decent upper body strength you can really focus on your abdominals during this movement.

There are literally thousands of ways to strengthen your abdominals, so if you hate crunches you can still get a great ab workout using the above alternative.  Strong abdominals are so important so don’t let hating crunches stop you from strengthening your core.

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The Chair Workouts

November 22nd, 2009

ADSENSE CODE #3

If you do not have any workout equipment at home or there is no gym in the office, then do not fret.  There are things around your home and office that can be utilized creatively to help you get your daily dose of fitness.

In almost every place, you can always find a chair.  It is up to your imagination on what other household or work furniture you can use to help you with your exercise routine.  However a chair is quite versatile, thus the chair workouts:1.  Abdominal crunches.  Be careful not to slip when you sit on the edge of a chair.  Secure the position by extending your arms to the back and hold each side of the furniture.  Extend your legs to the front and hold the position.  Tilt your head and shoulder backwards to form a 90-degree angle with your legs extended.  Now, bend your knees to clench your abdominal muscles and then extend your legs back to the front.  This abdominal exercise is better and more effective than the traditional sit-ups.2.  Lateral leg raise.  Hold the back of the chair with one of your arms while standing straight.  With the other arm holding the side of the waist making a 90-degree angle with the elbow, lift the leg to the side and gradually lower it.  With the other leg, perform the leg lift and gradually lower it as well.3.  Triceps dips.  With your back towards the back of the chair, lay your hands on the back of the furniture and hold it.  The back of your hand should be facing the front so as to isolate your triceps muscles.  Gradually lower yourself by bending your knees.  As you lower yourself, your elbows will bend and your arms will almost align with your shoulders.4.  Triceps kickbacks.  Hold the back of the chair with one arm.  The other arm should hold a dumbbell.  Place one knee on the seat of the chair.  The arm holding the chair and the knee on the seat of the chair should be on the same side.  The two should either be right or left side.  Lower your chest so that it is parallel to the ground.  Gradually lift the weight towards your back thus, extending the arm.  Slowly lower the dumbbell thus, bending the elbow to form a 90-degree angle.  Switch arms and knees and workout.It is amazing how we can find another use to already useful objects.  Instead of buying expensive gym equipment or joining a fitness club, why not utilize what we already have?  Aside from the money you can save, you can save space at home or save on gas in going to the fitness center.

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How to Get the Best Out of Abdominal Exercises

November 13th, 2009

Once you have chosen a to begin a fitness program, it is important to include abdominal exercises. There are many different exercises from which to choose. How do you know which ones will work the most effectively for you? Combine abdominal exercises that deal with not only the mid section, but the upper section, the obliques, and the lower abdominals. The good news is that this group of muscles will respond to the proper moves and we can be very pleased with the results.

It’s important to understand that equipment is not necessarily required in order to perform the best abdominal exercises. Also, choose the moves that you are willing to do on a regular basis. If you are frustrated with a certain exercise because it strains your back or you just aren’t strong enough yet, choose a different set and do them faithfully.

Crunches are a popular form of abdominal exercise. This particular move is effective and it can be done at home, at the gym, a hotel or wherever you travel. To get rid of love handles, exercises that target the oblique area, such as the side crunch, will do the job nicely.

There are workouts on the market today which focus on the core, or abdominal area. Pilates is one such workout, but there are several others as well. Studies have shown that if our core is strong, we lessen our risk of injury all around. The library, internet or a store are all great resources for finding exercise videos that can be used at home or on vacation. By using resistance, you can kick up your metabolism and get even better results. Incorporate a medicine ball, elastic band or dumbbells into your daily fitness regimen.

Abdominal exercises alone will not give the desired results. We must engage in an aerobic workout for 30-60 minutes a day, several days a week. This will burn off stored energy. What we eat is important too! Eat several small meals throughout the day to avoid overeating. Focus on vegetables and lean protein before eating whole grains or starches. Processed foods should make only an occasional appearance at mealtime.

Benefits of strong abdominal muscles far outweigh the time it takes to fit in the exercises each day. Strong abdominals protect your back muscles. The lower back is the site for many everyday injuries, so it makes sense to strengthen our abdominals in order to prevent possible injury. As we lose our abdominal fat, it will be easier to stand up taller, which automatically makes us appear thinner.

For women, abdominal exercise can be a means of stress relief. Stress promotes the release of cortisol in the body, which then can contribute to deep layers of fat in the abdominal area. As muscle is added to the body, this cortisol release is offset and fat doesn’t form as readily. This type of fat has been linked to some types of cancers and heart conditions in women.

It’s well worth the extra few minutes of time it takes to do abdominal exercises in order to help prevent these and other health problems. Not to mention, you’ll feel better and look better without that extra weight in your abdominal area.

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All About the Best Abdominal Exercises

November 10th, 2009

ADSENSE CODE #5

It is only natural, most people want to look their best, and exercising their To discover over 27 more abdominal fat loss and metabolism-boosting secrets, muscles is usually a huge part of most fitness programs. If so much time and energy is going to be focused on this muscle group, it is a good idea to know what the best abdominal exercises are. There are many resources available for finding the best abdominal exercises, and plenty of people to say what they consider the best, so how can a person decide for themselves which truly are the best exercises for working their abdominal muscles?

First of all it is important to note that the best abdominal exercises are those that a person is willing to do. No matter how effective the exercise is, if a person isn’t going to do them consistently the exercise will not benefit that particular individual. It is also important to note that the best abdominal exercises do not necessarily require equipment to perform them, although some machines and equipment may work quite well for some people.

When a person decides on a fitness program that includes abdominal exercises, it is best to include abdominal exercises that work the different parts of the abdominal If a person simply concentrates on one area of their abdominal, there workout will not be as effective. The best abdominal exercises, combine working the oblique, which are the side muscles, the lower abdominals, the mid section and also the upper section.

Some of the most popular abdominal exercises are crunches. These are a very effective exercise and very convenient since they can be performed anywhere without any equipment. The next abdominal exercise that is also very popular and goes along with the basic crunch is the side crunch, which works out the oblique.

Some people consider the best abdominal exercises to be included in a Pilate’s workout. The reason for this is because in Pilates, the whole focus is on the core of the body which is the abdominal, or abdominal muscles. Every movement in a Pilate’s workout will work the abdominal muscles either directly or indirectly. These exercises can be found on the internet, either the exercise itself or video’s that can be purchased.

Another good exercise that some fitness experts considers to be one of the best abdominal exercises involves laying flat on your abdominal, leg straight and then raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and keeping your body straight as if doing a pushup. Hold this position as long as you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole abdominal.

Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific exercise to be the best abdominal exercise that does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each person’s body is different and will respond differently to certain movements. Any one serious about working on the abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different abdominal exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with. If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best and the person should find what works best for them.

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