Bodybuilding Fat Loss

Monday, May 19, 2008

3 Common Ab Exercise Myths

Ab exercises aren't the only thing you have to do in order to get your 6-pack. You also have to work hard on your diet as well, sticking to a fat-burning, muscle-building diet all year round.

Here's a list of 3 common myths about abs.

Myth 1) Exercise is more important that nutrition

Diet is first and foremost the key factor when trying to get 6-pack abs. Plan your nutrition in advance, to avoid dietary downfalls. Focus on protein, green vegetables, fiber-rich fruits, and zero calorie drinks such as Green Tea and water. Avoid all sugar.

Myth 2) You can "Spot reduce" the fat on your abs with crunches

No matter how many crunches you do, you won't be able to get rid of your ab fat with crunches alone. You need a good diet and an increase in your calorie burning from strength training and interval training.

When I trained athletes, most of them had 6-packs, yet didnt do a single crunch in their programs. Instead, the total body movements of their sports and quick, intense workouts helped them shed the fat and build enough muscle to help them achieve the coveted 6-pack.

Myth 3) You must do abs every day

You don't need to do direct ab training every day. Instead, train them twice per week and use non-conventional exercises such as Mountain Climbers and Stability Ball Jackknives to reduce the stress on your low back.

I actually avoid the overuse of crunches and sit-ups in my training programs. Instead, for beginners, we focus on abdominal endurance with planks and side planks, and work up to more advanced exercises, but still avoid doing hundreds of ab crunches lying on your back.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Ripped Abs have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Total body abdominal workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for lean abs help you lose fat without any equipment at all.

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