| Given their worldwide recognition as experts in | | | | sternum). The reason that most people assume |
| the area of health and fitness, it's not surprising | | | | that there are upper and lower abs is because a |
| that receives hundreds of questions each week | | | | well-defined midsection has that six-pack look. |
| on the topic of abdominal training. The following | | | | You'll see a couple of muscle ridges high beneath |
| are the most common questions on developing | | | | the ribcage and a couple low around the |
| six-pack abs that we answer of a weekly basis. | | | | bellybutton region. Even though that the abdominal |
| Q. Are sit-ups good for fat loss and shrinking my | | | | muscle is really one large muscle, it is possible to |
| waist? A. The key to shrinking the waist is getting | | | | target the upper and lower sections by |
| your diet under control and performing effective | | | | performing different exercises. Exercises where |
| abdominal training exercises for the muscles. | | | | the torso moves and legs remain stationary |
| Sit-ups are no longer recommended for the abs | | | | primarily target the upper abs, while the lower abs |
| as they primarily target the hip flexors and can be | | | | are hit most effectively by moving the legs and |
| very stressful on the lower back for many | | | | locking the torso. Q. Will abdominal training help my |
| individuals. Q. Should I train abs every day? A. | | | | posture? A. You bet. Many posture-related |
| There is no easy answer to this question. Some | | | | problems are related to insufficient abdominal and |
| experts consider the abs to be just "another set | | | | lower back strength. One of the first things |
| of muscles" and as such you only need to train | | | | physiotherapists do with rehab patients is start |
| them a couple of times per week. Other experts | | | | working on their core muscles - the abs and |
| counter that the abs are designed for repeated | | | | lower back. But why wait until you have posture |
| training and can be worked every day. Our advice | | | | problems before you start training your abs. You |
| is to try both abdominal training approaches and | | | | should be training them a minimum of two to |
| see which one seems to work best for you. Q. | | | | three times a week RIGHT NOW! Q. Will ab |
| Should I work my whole body or just my abs? A. | | | | exercises hurt my lower back? A. No. In fact |
| The real key to overall health and fitness and | | | | training your abs will actually help prevent lower |
| developing six-pack abs is dropping your body fat | | | | back problems. Ab exercises are also go therapy |
| levels. Performing a half hour of abs will burn a | | | | for existing lower back problems. Just be careful |
| few calories and perhaps lower your body fat, | | | | to perform your exercises with good form and |
| but training the whole body will do it much quicker | | | | eliminate movements that are stressful to the |
| and much more effectively. Q. Do supplements | | | | lower back such as sit-ups and straight leg, leg |
| help? A. Yes absolutely. Despite a clean diet and | | | | raises. Q. Are side bends a good way to get rid |
| regular exercise it's extremely difficult to develop | | | | of my love handles? A. Not a chance. Doing side |
| amazing abdominals. You're fighting a couple of | | | | bends to get rid of love handles is based on the |
| million years of human evolution and your body | | | | myth of spot reduction. Many people think that by |
| will fight you for those last 10 or 12 pounds. | | | | doing high reps for the fat deposits around the |
| Check out the Super Abs with Super | | | | waist they can somehow stimulate fat loss in this |
| Supplements page for more information on the | | | | area. But as we keep saying you can't spot |
| most effective fat loss supplements. Q. What is | | | | reduce. Only cardio, healthy eating, and weight |
| the best ab exercise? A. It's always risky to | | | | training to boost the metabolism will effectively |
| suggest that one exercise is "best" as what | | | | get rid of the love handles. Q. Should I buy one of |
| works for one person may not work for another. | | | | those home ab-training gadgets? R. A. Absolutely |
| Still most people find that crunches seem to | | | | not! Most of these gadgets are designed to cash |
| stimulate the abdominal muscles the best. Unlike | | | | in on people's willingness to do virtually nothing but |
| those old-fashioned sit-ups that were all the rage | | | | get great results. Unfortunately it's not that easy. |
| for decades, crunches eliminate most of the hip | | | | Most of those crazy contraptions are either |
| flexor involvement that plague sit-ups. Crunches | | | | dangerous or just not that effective. You can |
| are far less stressful on the lower back than | | | | rock back and forth all day but you won't lose |
| sit-ups as well. You can do crunches on the floor | | | | and fat from your waist. If you truly want a rock |
| or using one of those big colorful exercise balls. Q. | | | | hard midsection you must clean up your diet. You'll |
| Can I target my upper and lower abs? A. The | | | | also need to do 3 to 4 sessions of both cardio |
| answer to this question is | | | | AND weight training every week. Save your |
| yes……and no! From an anatomy | | | | hard-earned cash for healthy food and a gym |
| point of view there is really no upper and lower | | | | membership rather than buying one of those |
| abs. The abdominal muscle fibers don't run | | | | foolish ab-training gadgets. |
| sideways but up and down (from pelvis to | | | | |