Abdominal Exercises are Not the Key to Six Pack Abs
November 18, 2008
That’s right, stop doing all those stomach crunches and read on for what is needed for a smooth, toned and buff stomach.
Abdominal exercises could possibly be eliminated all together and you can still get six pack abs, but the right training program is needed. The exercises that are usually performed in hopes of getting rock hard abdominals usually do not provide a source for burn much in calories. Why does this matter? It matters because burning calories is necessary for losing fat and losing fat leads to a lean, muscular stomach. Burning calories are one of the keys to six pack ab success.
Another key element to achieving six pack abs is the intensity of the workout. Leg lifts and stomach crunches are not high intensity exercises, regardless of how many you do.
Abdominal muscles require a high intensity level in exercise to form correctly. Too much of a good thing can be stated as true for ab crunches, sit ups and leg lifts. While good in moderation as a form of exercise, they are not only not the correct exercise for a sculpted midsection, but they can create an imbalance between the muscle strength between your back and stomach. This can lead to back conditions possibly.
This is not want you want for yourself is it?
Have we convinced you that ab exercises are not what you need for six pack abs? I hope so. If you really want six pack abs, you will need to lose body fat and build lean muscle tone. To do this you will need to do the correct forms of exercise which includes weight training.
If you are already doing a form of weight training, that’s good and keep up the good efforts. If you are not currently weight training, what are you waiting for?
If already weight training or about to begin, it is important to know that specific weight training exercises need the spotlight and extra attention.
There are specific weight training exercises that can prove to be very focused on working the abdominal muscles both in intensity and effectiveness. No amount of crunches or leg lifts will compare to the weight training of specific muscle groups. You will find these exercise may not even directly work the abdominal muscles, but indirectly will work them hard.
Here are some popular weight training exercises that will greatly effect your abs indirectly.
1.) Barbell Squats.
this works the abdominals and the lower back throughout the movement during the set. To get an advance in the effectiveness of this exercise, perform a variation on the barbell squat. Place the bar across the front of the body over the shoulders while doing front squats.
2.) Dead-lifts.
Working the body totally from head to toes are dead-lifts. You may not realize it but they do. Be sure to keep the lower back as well as the abdominals tight for the entire duration of the exercise. This exercise can be even more effective than that of the barbell squats. Both of these exercises will burn fat and work the abdominal muscles efficiently and effectively. Doing a high repetition counts of fifteen to twenty reps per set will work the best for results.
3.) Specifically Designed Dumbbell Rows.
With two dumbbells in hand, set your body as you would for doing push ups, but of course you will have the dumbbells at the bottom of your hands. The point of this is to improve the stretch of the muscles in the bottom position.
While in the highest position during the push-up routine, perform a one arm dumbbell row.
Then lower the dumbbell back to the ground and continue the same procedure for the other arm.
Although you will not notice it at the time of exercise, you will be working the abdominal muscles at the same time. For optimal results, a set should include eight to twelve repetitions for each arm.
These exercises may provide soreness, but will also tell you that you are working towards results. If these exercises are done as part of a total body weight training regime along with proper eating habits, you will be developing your very own six pack abs that everyone will be envious of.
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