A lot of individuals start a fitness plan with the dream of a flatter abdomen and tighter abs. The attractive midsection is the epitome of a fit body. When you have that sleek midsection, you're more confident, it feels great and you look your best. All are worthy fitness goals, but require a worthy effort to achieve.
A lot of individuals start a fitness plan with the dream of a flatter abdomen and tighter abdominals. The attractive midsection is the epitome of a fit body. When you have that sleek midsection,
you're more confident, it feels great and you look your best. All are worthy fitness goals, but require a worthy effort to achieve.
Unfortunately, most folks drop out soon after starting with no results and more defeated than before - falling victim to unrealistic expectations and lack of information. The familiar problem stems from not really knowing how to go about attaining the goal, what is required beyond area targeted exercises, and that abdominal exercises actually play a minor role in achieving the kind of body they want. If a flatter stomach and tighter abs interests you, consider some of these tips on how to truly go about it. These tips are going to save you time and help you get a lot better results.
#1 - Ease Into It.
At the start of any new exercise regimen, it's vital to start easy and not wear oneself out. If you find the exercises too challenging or even worse, injury yourself when just staring out, you significantly increase the tendency of delaying or quitting your new exercise regimen completely.
Make an attempt to get going with simple exercises, then once those are mastered, slowly progress to more advanced exercises and harder workouts. Increase the level of difficulty a little at a time as you increasingly build endurance and strength.
#2 - Start With Some Cardio.
It's vital to acknowledge performing hundreds upon hundreds of situps, ab crunches or any other targeted abdominal exercise will not drop belly fat and give you a chiselled midsection. It will be vital to engage in fat reducing training for the entire body since your specific genetics will ascertain where and at what rate the fat will come off. It's necessary to include Cardio exercises such as jogging, swimming, cycling or even walking into your exercise program since they are a nice beginners activity to start the fat burning process. Most recreational athletes are comfortable with at least one or two cardio activities and these activities should be a foundation of any well-rounded fitness program.
#3 - Bring On The Metabolic.
Once you're comfy with the cardio activities, it's time to get a little more advanced and add some metabolic or interval training such as circuit workouts, bootcamp classes or suspension training. These workouts are meant to be performed at higher intensities for shorter periods, so you can increase your cardiovascular efficiency, ramp up your metabolic rate and burn more calories. Metabolic training is very effective because it works large muscle groups at 70% capacity and more and ultimately keeps your body out of it's comfort zone. These types of workouts can and should be tough. If you're doing more than two or three metabolic training sessions per week, you may be over doing it.
#4 - Now Tone Those Abs.
Now that the fat burning activities are successfully under way, it's time to incorporate the last portion of this fitness program. It's time to integrate some isolated abdominal exercises to tone the abdominal muscles. Isolating abdominal muscles means sole use of the ab muscles in the exercise motion while the employ of other supporting muscles is minimized. When performing these exercises, good form is vital. You should be able to feel the ab muscles contracting with each and every effort and feel a distinct muscle burn near the end of the set. If you don't feel it, then you probably need to adjust your technique since you're depending too much on other muscles. Once again because it's important, ab movements should be executed slowly with focused attention on proper form.
Admittedly, proper breathing is another element (and often ignored) that is especially important during abdominal exercises. Holding ones breath is a common mistake many people make. Straining and temporarily elevated blood pressure is a direct result of holding one's breath during exercise. Proper breathing form should coincide with proper exercise technique. Breathing out during the contraction will squeeze the abdominal muscles to a greater extent and make the movement more effective. Breath in during the lowering phase of the exercise while keeping constant tension on the abdominals. The lowering phase should be slow and deliberate just like the lifting phase.
#5 - Variety Increases Success.
Lastly, variety also plays a enormous role in any successful fitness program. A variety of exercises alleviates boredom, maintains motivation, and keeps things fresh and fun. When it comes to isolation exercises, performing a variety of movements allows you to work the abdominals from different angles and hit all regions.
One of the best pieces of fitness equipment to come on the market in a long time that is excellent for both variety and motivation are body weight based suspension trainers. Suspension trainers (TRX ProPack, Jungle Gym XT, Human Trainer and the Freestyle Trainer Pro) enable users to perform literally hundreds of exercises that engage the abdominals and core area. Consequently, they are terrific for metabolic and interval training which as mentioned previously, is a potent approach for fat burning. View the TRX Suspension Trainer review at FitnessCulture.org to get more details about bodyweight based suspension training.
Common to any fitness goal, it's essential to recall, you are the one who will determine whether you will succeed. Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right". A positive confident attitude is the single most important factor to succeeding at anything you set out to do. With the right attitude, consistent training, a good diet, proper form and the appropriate amount of time, you will get the flatter stomach and tighter abs you desire. As an added bonus, you will get the substantial benefits being fit.
