Do These Exercises And You'll Have Abs In No Time!

I find it quite amusing when I see articles, DVDs, pills, and whatever other gimmicks there are being promoted getting you those rock hard abs you've always wanted. And how many people actually buy into it? Don't get me wrong, all these items could potentially work, but what the average person does not realize is that it's beyond the "magic" pill and the "ab-ripping" DVD! 

Have you ever heard of the expression, "Abs are made in the kitchen"? This simple phrase speaks volumes because it's TRUE! I've said this before and I'll always say it - the way your body looks is 80% diet, 10% training, and 10% genetics. You can do as many abs as you want, but if your diet isn't there, then don't expect your abs to be either. It's that simple. All the weights and exercise balls will only help get you a stronger core and define your abs, but getting them to poke through, you'll have to work on your diet for that one. 

Genetics

Don't forget - if you want abs like the pictures posted above (which I'm sure have been airbrushed and touched up in some fashion), then try not to strive too hard because every person has uniquely shaped abs (genetics). Instead focus on YOU and what YOUR body can do. Stop comparing to others. Love your body! God's a smart man, He knew what He was doing when He created you. Just go with it and work with what yo momma gave you! If you can't get past this then you'll just become frustrated and in turn you might give up. 

Diet

Mmm diet... in my opinion, THE hardest thing to get a grasp on. BUT once you do, it becomes easier because you start feeling better and realize you don't need that greasy cheese pizza or those french fries. Instead, you'll opt for a sweet potato and a 6oz. tuna steak. Now doesn't that sound delicious? And, guess what? That's what will help your ab muscles become apparent! I'll be blogging more about diet later...

Exercise

You were probably hoping I wasn't going to bring this up, but exercise will help those ab muscles! Cardio is good for burning fat, especially doing high intensity interval training (also referred to as HIIT - this is also something I will explain in another blog). I also suggest doing weighted ab exercises as that will help build the muscle. If you know your abdominal muscle anatomy, the better it will be for you to get those strong, sexy abs! 

• Rectus Abdominus - These are the muscles that give you the six-pack look and feel. 
• Obliques - These are the muscles on the side (you know, that "notch"-looking area that men strive for and women love!) 
• Transverse Abdominal - These are the deepest ab muscles and are located in the obliques and rectus abs. They're pretty important because they hold your internal organs in place. They also provide balance and coordination, and stabilizes the lower back and torso while performing any heavy lifts. 

So, there you have it, a quick Ab 101 class by yours truly. Now, on to the actual exercises!

There are a PLETHORA of exercises you can perform for your abs. I'll only list my favorites. If there are any I list that you are unsure how to do, either do a search for it in the search box on the upper left-hand part of my blog (yes, the Google search box), and it will list the exercises found on the web within my page to the right of the search box. 

• Hanging Leg Raises
• Decline Crunches
• Lemon Squeezes or In and Out
• Kneeling Rope Pulley Crunches (my absolute fave!)
• Russian Twists (holding a weight)
• Regular Crunches
• Planks and Side Planks
• Bicycle
• Leg Raises

This is an example of what I do for my ab routine. I ALWAYS switch it up as I get easily bored with my routines and it's good to shock your body with new exercises so you don't reach a plateau. I would perform these either 3 to 4 sets for 25 reps - meaning I'd go through each exercise listed above and do them each 25 times. Once I completed all the exercises (that's one full set) I'd rest for about 30 seconds and go right back into it again and I'd do this for a total of 3 to 4 times. 

Have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in the comment engine below or email me at lovescars23@yahoo.com. 

Good luck! YOU CAN DO IT!