If you have ever read a fitness
magazine...
If you have ever watched TV
ads about latest machines
that will "magically" reveal
your abs...
If you have ever gone to a
gym and seen tens of people
lying on the floor doing crunches....
Then beware - because chances
are you are a victim of the
two biggest abdominal training
hoaxes!
Hoax # 1
Just doing some midsection
exercises can reduce your
"love handles".
Fact:
You cannot reduce fat from
a certain targeted area of
your body just by using exercise
alone. The abdominal area
is no exception.
So, if you want to get a flat
stomach and reveal your abs,
losing the fat covering them
is the way to go.
The only way to do this is
to lose fat proportionately
from your entire body by burning
more calories than you consume.
How? By doing these two things:
1) Have a healthy and balanced
permanent diet: dark green
vegetables, fresh fruits,
whole wheat and whole grain
products, non-fat dairy products,
fish, poultry breast, lean
red meat, egg white.
You should cut out all sugar,
soda, non-whole grain products
and saturated fats: These
aliments should only be a
reward for achieving a goal,
not a habit!
2) Start exercising
Aerobic and weight training
will raise your metabolic
rate. In result, your body
will burn more calories.
* aerobic exercising
3 times per week, conduct
an exercise that keeps your
heart rate elevated for at
least 30-45 minutes (ex: walking,
running, cycling, swimming,
aerobics, etc)
* weight training
Alternate days of aerobics
with weight training. You
will build muscles that will
burn more calories, even when
at rest!
Hoax # 2
You have to do tons of crunches.
Fact:
Overuse of crunches will only
shorten your abs, pull your
head forward, and give you
bad posture. Do you really
want to look like Quasimodo,
the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?
Any standing exercise that
will contract your abs will
do, but you should specifically
target your lower back to
strengthen the muscles that
support your spine.
The easiest exercise is sucking
the gut in, also known as
the "stomach vacuum"...
1. Exhale. Suck in your gut.
2. Maintain the contraction
for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Repeat 10 to 15 times,
as often as you like throughout
the day (...while in the shower,
sitting at your desk, while
driving, etc.).
Time now for YOU to take action!
PS: Do not forget to consult
your doctor before starting
any diet and exercise plan.
About the author:
Find out more about http://www.healthandfinesse.com>Fitness
at http://www.healthandfinesse.com>healthandfinesse.com
Resources - Link Exchange
