ab workout

The 3 Absolute Rules on How to Get Killer Abs!

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We’ve all wondered about how to get killer absat some point in our lives. After reading many articles in health magazines and websites, I’m sure you already know that there are many ways to achieve it. The secret (if there is one) is that you integrate the RIGHT strategies instead of just relying on one.

It’s not as hard as you think. It only seems like it because you haven’t even started yet. But once you get the ball rolling, things will just start to fall into place.

There are 3 key strategies to creating an effective fitness plan. No, it does not involve paying for a personal trainer or signing up for expensive pre-packed food to be delivered to your home. If you want to know how to get killer abs, simply keep in mind these 3 simple points:

  1. Healthy Eating
  2. Abs Targeting
  3. Complete Muscle Strengthening

Healthy Eating

 

Knowing what your body fat percentage can help you determine which foods you need to cut down on. You can easily find out what your body fat percentage is by asking your doctor or a fitness trainer at the gym.

If yours is especially high, that means you will need to work extra hard at building ab muscles. It also means you will need to change your diet.

No amount of sit ups or crunches will get you six pack abs if you have a considerable amount of fat surrounding your abdominal area. How to get killer abs when you’re battling the bulge? Start eating healthy, that’s how.

With a low fat diet, you can easily burn stored body fat. Try getting more leafy greens and lean meats into your meals. In the meantime, you need to avoid foods that are high in saturated fat, such as chips, French fries, fried chicken, and processed canned meat.

Abs Targeting

Abs targeting is definitely the icing on the cake since it directly involves your abdominal muscles. With excess fat out of the way, you can get your midsection into shape just by performing 3 abs targeting exercises every other day. You now have a better idea how a healthy, low fat diet can be advantageous while doing targeted abs exercises.

Doing 5-10 reps of each exercise, while gradually increasing your reps as your fitness level improves, is how to get killer abs. Sit ups, crunches, and bicycles are examples of very basic yet highly effective abs targeting exercises.

Complete Muscle Strengthening

 

While you work on your abdominals, it is also important that you strengthen and condition other muscle groups as well. Here’s why:

  • You get faster, long-lasting results
  • You reduce the risk of injury
  • You give your abdominal muscles a break
  • You allow your whole body to get in shape

Choose from a wide array of full body workouts, including swimming, yoga, martial arts, and boxing.

How to get killer abs isn’t cryptic at all. You just have to cover all the bases – get your diet right, work on those abs, and involve the rest of your body.

Learn to Exercise Your Abs at Home

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If you want a flatter, leaner stomach it is easy to exercise your abs at home. Without use of special equipment or going to the gym, you can sculpt a tighter stomach with just a few simple exercises a day.

To start with, do some research on different types of ab exercises. There are many modifications on crunches, and techniques for targeting different areas of your abdominal region. Start collecting a file of ab exercises from reputable sources that you can work with.

Once you’ve collected your file, use a different technique each week. This is an effective way to exercise your abs at home. You’ll speed up your results, and you’ll be challenging your ab muscles to do new movements each week.

It is really important to pay attention to your breathing technique when you are working on your abs. Remember: exert = exhale. Anytime you exert pressure on a muscle group (the “crunch” part of your crunches) you’ll exhale. Exhaling makes your ab muscles become fully involved in the exercise.

Mix up your exercise routine with some aerobic exercise, like walking, jogging or an aerobics dvd. Burning fat from all over your body will help reveal your sculpted ab muscles. Try adding a cardio routine to your schedule at least three times a week and note your results.

Eating habits are also critical to the success of your ab workout. You’ve got to reduce goods that have sodium, sugar and preservatives with fresh, natural foods. You know, all the kinds of foods that your doctor encourages you to eat! Drink lots of water and keep your diet balanced.

A special note on drinks….alcohol can be a powerful enemy when you exercise your abs at home. They don’t call them beer guts for nothing!

Studies have shown the beer and other alcoholic drinks can lead to a rise in cortisol in your body. And cortisol is a hormone that steers fat toward your mid-section. Eliminate or reduce your alcohol intake for a leaner stomach.

If you are losing extra body fat by following these guidelines, you may need to increase your repetitions. When you exercise your abs at home, and add cardio and proper diet, your ab muscles will grow in strength.

Pretty soon the 20 to 30 reps that had you “feeling the burn” will feel like nothing at all. Keep adding 10 to 20 more each week to continue challenging your muscles.

How to Get Sexy Abs – Use Side Stomach Crunches

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Side stomach crunches unfamiliar to you? Have you decided that it’s finally time for you to get on top of things, and start developing your abs into the muscle packs that you have always wanted? It’s certainly a noble goal, and there is nothing to keep you from achieving it. There are many ways to develop flat and muscular abs, and some work better than others.

One of my favorite exercises for the abs is the stomach crunch and side stomach crunch. It doesn’t require any workout equipment or trips to the gym, but if you stick with it for any extended period of time, you’re sure to make the desired improvements.

You’ve most likely seen the stomach crunch performed before. All it takes is lying on your back with your hands behind your head, then curling at the stomach and bringing your face and elbows upward. Essentially you are crunching your abs together.

After you have performed your amount of initial stomach crunches, you should do side stomach crunches to effectively hit not only the front of your stomach muscles, but both sides as well. Instead of pushing your elbows straight forward, you will rotate to one side as you lift off of the ground, and put more emphasis onto that cluster of muscles.

This exercise is so simple, yet is the most fundamental ab movement, and therefore extremely effective. The movement of contraction then expansion will rip your muscles to shreds (which, remember, is a good thing) and leave you feeling extremely sore. And with the side stomach crunches thrown in to boot, your ab muscles will be screaming.

The effective number of reps depends on your personal shape and goals. Do you want to go from chubby to lean and mean in just a few months? Well, you had better do crunches until you are physically incapable of doing them any more. Repeat this every day, and you will see maximum results.

But if your goals are a little less extreme and you just want to tighten up the stomach area, you can get by with slightly less rigorous amounts of ab exercises. If you do 50 normal crunches and 50 side stomach crunches, you won’t be off to too bad of a start.

If you want to really improve your abs quickly through stomach crunches and side stomach crunches, then it all depends on finding what a comfortable amount is for you, while still pushing yourself closer and closer to your personal upper limit.

How to Get Nice Abs – 3 Tips for the Perfect Workout Environment

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I’m sure you’ve read countless magazine articles and web posts on how to get nice abs. Sometimes, it may start to feel like a chore. This leads to passivity and, most often than not, laziness.

The best way to work out your abs is by making it as comfortable and as fun as possible. Sure, it is considered as WORK. But as with any other form of labor, you must enjoy every second to really get the most out of it.

Once you get your total fitness plan all ironed out, it is time to figure out WHERE you can carry out these exercises. Answering this question will better help you understand how to get nice abs.

Establishing a favorable workout environment allows your mind and body to become at ease even while doing the most challenging of exercises. In doing so, you are simultaneously creating a routine that, ultimately, can be stress-free and fun. I mean, who wouldn’t want a pleasant workout experience?

The More the Merrier

If you get motivation from working with others or if you generally need support while doing your ab routine, then going to the gym or other exercise facilities would be ideal for you. Most of these establishments have free trial sessions or, if you’re lucky, extended trial periods. Taking advantage of these promotions will help you make up your mind easily.

People you work out with can definitely show you how to get nice abs, especially if they have six pack abs themselves. Working out with equally driven individuals can be very encouraging, and you can even pick up more tips along the way.

The Lone Star

Exercising in the midst of gorgeous bodies and health buffs could be highly motivating, but it can also go the other way, especially if you don’t feel comfortable around many people. The idea of keeping up with the exercise maniac next to you can be somewhat intimidating, I get that.

But don’t you worry because you can still get results fast even when you work out on your own. The best part is that you won’t even have to leave your house.

How to get nice abs at home, you ask? All you need to do is pick a peaceful spot; somewhere spacious and private, like your bedroom, the basement, your garage, or even the backyard.

The Right Stuff

Stocking up on useful yet inexpensive exercise tools can also ensure a fun and effective workout. Some things you might want to have lying around are decent workout music, an exercise mat, an exercise ball, interactive workout videos, and the like.

You can easily stack and store these items in a shelf or storage room nearby. Less hassle and double the fun, that’s what we’re going for.

Consistency will definitely show you how to get nice abs. By picking the most convenient and comfortable workout environment, you can enjoy every minute and get really nice abs in no time at all.

3 Steps to Getting Six Pack Abs for Women

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Women from all walks of life are reminded every single day about their physical imperfections. It does seem like six pack abs for womenare unattainable unless you’re a supermodel or hot Hollywood actress. But the truth is, even the most average Jane can get sexy abs.

Just like men, women have struggled for years to lose weight and define their midsection. Unlike men, however, women are required to exert a little more effort to build muscle. Even though women need to push a little further than their male counterparts, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

Don’t be discouraged by all the pessimism going around. You may not be a hot rising star or the new cover girl for a magazine, but six pack abs for women ARE attainable — that’s the most important thing you need to know.

You also need to know HOW you can achieve a great body. Setting these three central and realistic goals will help you get your fitness program in gear:

  1. Get rid of belly fat;
  2. Build a cardiovascular workout routine; and
  3. Zero-in on those abs!

Dieting has had a perceived negative connotation, especially for women. When in fact, all it requires is regularly eating (take note: not STARVING) the right kinds of food. Forget about fad diets, artificial food supplements, and extreme “zone” regimens for a second, and concentrate on getting the essential macronutrients by eating well-balanced meals.

This is the first step to getting six pack abs for women.

The female anatomy is designed to store more fat in preparation for childbirth and rearing, but don’t let that get in the way of your goal. If you’ve been used to eating on the go (e.g. fast food and take-out), it is high time you re-evaluate your eating habits. Changing the way you eat and what you eat can improve your metabolism considerably.

A little planning and a whole lot of determination can go a long way when it comes to your diet. By eating small, balanced meals frequently, you allow your body to stay nourished and “full” so you don’t over-eat at any given time. Sticking to lean proteins, a small amount of healthy fats, and whole grains is ideal.

The next step to getting six pack abs for women is a well-rounded cardiovascular routine. Regularly performing a variety of fun, blood-pumping exercises, such as aerobics classes, jogging, and swimming will help condition your WHOLE body.

These holistic exercises will also prepare your abdominal muscles for your next and final goal – abs training and sculpting.

Really getting in there with regular crunches, sit ups, or other ab-specific exercises will help define and sculpt your obliques, and lower and upper abdominals. Increasing your reps and frequency is crucial in developing six pack abs fast.

If you really think about, getting six pack abs for women isn’t complicated at all. Six pack abs don’t discriminate, and so shouldn’t you. Get right on your fitness program and start working on those abs today!