Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

The Two Greatest Myths About Abdominal Exercises


If you have ever read a fitness magazine...

If you have ever watched TV ads about latest machines that willmagically reveal your abs...

If you have ever gone to a gym and saw tens of people lying onthe floor doing crunches....

then beware because chances are you are a victim of the twobiggest abdominal training hoaxes!

Myth No: 1

Just doing some midsection exercises can reduce your "lovehandles".

Fact

You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your bodyjust by using exercise alone.

And the abdominal area is no exception.

So if you want to get a flat stomach and to reveal your abs,losing the fat covering them is the way to go.

And the only way to do this is to lose fat proportionately fromyour entire body by burning more calories than you consume.

How? By doing these two things:

1) Have a healthy and balanced permanent diet: dark greenvegetables, fresh fruits, whole wheat and whole grain products,non-fat dairy products, fish, poultry breast, lean red meat, eggwhite.

Yes, you should cut out all sugar, soda, non-whole grain productsand saturated fats: these aliments should only be a reward forachieving a goal, not a habit!

2) Start exercising

Aerobic and weight training will raise your metabolic rate. Inresult, your body will burn more calories.

* aerobic exercising

3 times per week, practice an exercise that keeps your heart rateelevated for at least 30-45 minutes (ex: walking, running,cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc)

* weight training

Alternate days of aerobics with weight training. You will buildmuscles that will burn more calories, even when at rest!

Myth No: 2

You have to do tons of crunches.

Fact

Overuse of crunches will only shorten your abs, pull your headforward and gives you a bad posture. Do you really want to lookslike Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?

Any standing exercise that will contract your abs will do but youshould specifically target your lower back to strengthen themuscles that support your spine.

The easiest exercise is sucking the gut in, also known as the"stomach vacuum" :

1. Exhale. Suck your gut in.

2. Maintain the contraction for 10 to 20 seconds.

3. Repeat 10 to 15 times, as often as you like throughout the day(for example while in the shower, sitting at your desk, whiledriving or in the bus).

Time now for YOU to take action!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.


MORE RESOURCES:

Exercise Important in Teens' Blood Pressure Control
ABC News
Researchers found that among nearly 1300 Canadian teenagers they followed for five years, declining exercise levels over time were linked to small increases ...

and more »


Reid objects to emergency exercise set for Vegas
San Jose Mercury News
Harry Reid has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her to reconsider plans for an emergency exercise in Las ...
Tourism promoters lobby against drillLas Vegas Review - Journal
Planned Emergency Drill Prompts ConcernsKXNT

all 36 news articles »


E! Online

Jude Law throws fruit at students during exercise routines: New Yorkers ...
Examiner.com
These lucky learners have the perfect view of Jude Law as he does a daily exercise routine and plays with his son on the balcony of his apartment. ...
Jude Law hurls oranges at unwanted audience: reportAFP

all 38 news articles »


WA today

American Council on Exercise releases Wii Fit study results
Examiner.com
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) released study results last week regarding Nintendo's Wii Fit. Conducted with the help of the University of Wisconsin ...
Nintendo Wii may provide actual exercise: studyReuters
Active Video Games Count as ExerciseU.S. News & World Report
Sports Authority to sell the Wii because, well, it's an exercise deviceCrunchGear (blog)
The Money Times -HULIQ -Daily Mail
all 196 news articles »


Obama, NFL players encourage kids to exercise
ProFootballTalk
All of the NFL's Thanksgiving weekend games will be used to showcase the league's efforts to combat childhood obesity and encourage exercise.

and more »


Pointless exercise
IFR Asia
Ratings agency Moody's last week modified its methodology for hybrid and subordinated debt, a move that was widely anticipated but had little impact on ...

and more »


Local Students Help Out The Community Through Exercise
WSAW
Before they donated them they were used to help build muscle, and raise awareness about the importance of exercise. "They use the can as kind of their ...

and more »


Options to Advil for pain relief
Los Angeles Times
I was disappointed that you didn't mention exercise. According to a literature review in the "Handbook of Sport Psychology," as little as 5 to 10 minutes of ...
Damp Pajamas For Eczema; Walnuts Lower CholesterolHartford Courant

all 2 news articles »


What kind of strength work won't aggravate rotator cuff issue?
CNN
What kind of exercise moves can I do instead that will get me the same sort of gains? Thanks. Hi Renee -- I commend your desire to incorporate strength ...

and more »


Cancer risks can be reduced with wise choices about diet, exercise, tobacco use
Gaffney Ledger (subscription)
The risk of cancer can be dramatically reduced through everyday choices about diet, exercise and tobacco use, according to a Special Report on Cancer ...

and more »

Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.