abs

Many people often believe that doing crunches and sit-ups will help get that six pack that they have always wanted. Well, by performing crunches and sit-ups you will definitely work the ab muscles and get that so called “tone”, but you will probably not get the result that you want without proper diet and cardio work-out. If you want abs, you have no other option but to watch your diet and do your cardio. By performing crunches and sit-ups, you are working the muscle under the fat and you need to burn the fat in order for that six pack to “pop out.”

Muscle tissue and fat tissue are two different types of tissue and you need to burn the fat tissue before you can see that six pack. Doing crunches alone will never get the results that you are looking for. You would have to perform millions of crunches to get the results that proper diet and cardio can achieve.

I have put together a few exercise tips that may help you achieve your desired goal:

The Oblique or External Abdominal Oblique Muscle is used for torso rotation. There are three main muscles that help with torso rotation: Internal/External Obliques and the Transverse Abdominis. Be very careful and use precise movements while working the obliques. Using too much weight and over-rotating can compromise the back, cause injuries and future back problems. I have put together a series of eight exercises that target the oblique region. I recommend doing two or three sets of twenty repetitions at light to medium weight.

Maybe your New Year’s resolution is to strengthen your inner core so that it looks like Tracy Anderson or Michael Phelps. Or perhaps that was last year’s resolution. Regardless if getting a svelte middle is on your 2009 list, developing strong abdominals not only looks great but studies show that it improves posture and reduces lower back pain. A well-maintained core improves the stability of your torso which prevents your back from common aches and strains that come from moving too quickly or shoveling snow without the proper alignment.

Rather than spend oodles of your precious gym minutes working on your core, here is one yoga move that will strengthen your abs and give your arms and legs a workout, too!