Review: Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro

When it comes to improving your fitness, core strength is key, and the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro allows you to target your core as well as your arms and back to get an effective high-performance workout.

This system comes with a wide wheel with sturdy handles that allows you to perform an ab workout that will sculpt and tone your abs very easily.  You'll also appreciate the included knee pads that help protect your knees while you're exercising.

The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro

Using this piece of equipment couldn't be easier. Just get on your hands and knees, grab the handles on the wheel and then roll out and roll back.  This simple motion targets your core muscles.  The longer the distance you roll out and back, the more intense the workout. You can also use the ab carver to target specific areas such as the oblique muscles for the best possible overall workout.

You might look at this little exercise tool and think it's too simple to do much good. But it turns out that this provides you with a very intense workout - sometimes good things do come in small packages! Unlike situps, which can be hard on the lower back and even cause injury, this tool actually strengthens the back and shoulders, as well as the abs, so it's not just an abdominal workout - it improves your total core and upper body strength at the same time.

The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro is designed to be sturdy and handle any amount of body weight you apply to it, but it requires you to do all of the work. Balancing and rolling the device takes a lot more effort than you might think.  You'll get more out of your workout in less time - and isn't that what everyone wants from their fitness program?

After you've purchased the product, you'll be able to download a workout plan to your computer that helps you get started with a 21 day fitness plan.  This allows a beginner to get started with a plan that's easy to follow.  However, even an fit and experienced person can benefit from the workout.

Whether you're a newbie looking to improve your exercise routine, or you're ready to take your workout routine to the next level, this exercise tool will help you to meet your goals.

Customers who have purchased this exercise device have been surprised at their quick results.  They rave about the stability and quality of the product.  After using this for a few weeks you'll begin to see a big difference in your core strength. With this added strength you'll find that you're standing taller, have fewer aches and pains, and look better in your clothes.  With the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro may even find that you're finally able to achieve the six pack you've always wanted! It's up to you and the effort you put into it, but this is a very effective and affordable piece of exercise equipment to have on hand.

Plus it's small enough to store easily, and portable if you need to use it in a different location.

Check out the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro and get your abs in shape quickly this holiday season - and it also makes a great gift for those interested in fitness! You can find it at Amazon.com and other online retailers and fitness stores.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and we'll be back on Friday with your weekly workout!

Why "Isolation Training" With Weights Is A Bad Strategy

This week we have a special guest article for you, by a certified personal trainer. Read on to find out how to get the most out of your workouts, and why this popular method of working out may not be as beneficial as you'd think.

What you need to know about Weight Training for a strong lean body that both looks good and is injury resistant
by Mike Geary - Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer

Image via WikipediaWorking as a personal trainer & fitness professional, there is one type of question I get all the time that shows that many people are missing the big picture regarding the benefits of strength training. This popular question usually goes something like this:

“What exercise can I do to isolate my _______ (insert your muscle of choice – abs, quads, biceps, triceps, etc)?”

It doesn’t matter which muscle someone is asking about, they always seem to be asking how to ‘isolate’ it. My first response to this question is always – “Why in the world would you want to isolate it?” 

The first thing I try to teach my clients is that the body does not work well in muscle isolation. Rather, it works better in movements along a kinetic chain; that is, large portions of the body assist other portions of the body in completing a complex movement. In fact, there really is no such thing as true muscle isolation. There is almost always a nearby muscle group that will assist in some way with whatever movement you are doing. However, this article compares attempting to ‘isolate’ body parts via single-joint exercises to the much more effective strategy of performing multi-joint complex movements.

When you attempt to ‘isolate’ muscles by performing single-joint exercises, you are actually creating a body that is non-functional and will be more prone to injury. Essentially, you are creating a body that is a compilation of body parts, instead of a powerful, functional unit that works together. 

Click Here For Rest of Article....

Stomach Exercises for the Lower Abs

An important and sometimes neglected step in stomach exercise routines is isolating particular muscles within the abdominal group. One such set of muscles which needs isolation in order to be exercised properly are the muscles in the lower stomach. There are a number of stomach exercises which isolate and work these muscles. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.
     
Crunchless Crunch
This first exercise is fairly simple but can also be fairly difficult. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine. This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be used to activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.
     
Alternating Toe Touch
You will need to lie on a flat surface for this stomach exercise. The floor works best, using a mat or towel to cushion the spine. Lie on the floor and put your feet straight up in the air. Extend your right arm and use your lower abdominals to lift your shoulders off the floor. Touch your left toes with your right hand, then lower yourself back down. Switch hands and repeat. Keep your knees straight throughout and maintain a space between your chin and chest. (Note: This one can be a bit hard on the lower back, so if you have back problems skip this one at least until you are stronger.)

Reverse Crunch
While you are still on the floor, try this stomach exercise. Bring your knees in towards the chest, and cross your ankles. Place a pillow or ball behind your knees, and grip with your calves to hold it in place. Relax your arms at your sides. Using your lower abdominals, roll your hips up off the floor, as though trying to touch your knees to your chin. Roll back down until your tailbone touches the floor, but be sure not to let your lower back arch off the floor. Repeat 10-20 times, then switch ankles and repeat. It seems like such a simple and easy move, but you will really start to feel it in your lower abs! And it's much easier on your low back than some other ab exercises.
     
Lower Back Flatten
Lie on your back on the floor, knees bent, feet flat. Let your lower back lift off the floor in its natural curve, and relax your upper body. In this exercise, you want to use your lower abdominals to push your lower back toward the floor and eliminate the space. Try to focus on pushing with only your lower abdominals and not your legs. Your pelvis will rotate slightly, which is fine so long as the lower abdominals are doing the work. Once you have got your back flat to the floor, hold the contraction for ten seconds. Again, you should continue to build on this time as your stomach muscles gain strength and endurance.

 

Click Here For More Fun Ways to Get Flat Sexy Abs!

Aquasize For A Flatter Stomach

Well, summer is coming to an end, but if you've still got a few warm days to get some time in at the pool, why not use them to keep that tummy nice and flat?

Image via Wikipedia"Aquasizing" is a popular exercise form nowadays - particularly in the summer, but many YMCAs feature indoor pools, so you can have fun in the water and stay fit year-round. Water provides natural resistance, making the pool a great place to do stomach exercises to flatten out that tummy. Despite the greater resistance water has than air, aquasizing is low-impact, meaning less strain on joints. Try out these exercises next time you take a trip down to your pool. Remember, consult your doctor before beginning a new workout routine, and always warm up properly to prevent injury.

The first set of exercises to try is called the jump and dig. There are two moves in this set, one for the upper body and one for the lower body. The former is great for your obliques, and the latter works on your abdominals. To start, stand in water that is between your belly button and chest. To work the lower body (including your abdominals), put your feet a wide distance apart, then jump so your knees come up to the surface of the water and back down. Picture a frog as you do it; this will help you get the form right. Next, to work the upper body, begin by making a scoop with both hands at the surface of the water. Bring your hand scoop below the surface, then scoop up and to one side. Alternate sides to work the obliques on both sides. Start by doing the two moves separately for three minutes each. Once you have mastered the form, do them at the same time to exercise both sets of stomach muscles at once.

As you build strength and endurance, you can add water gloves to increase resistance. You can also do the exercises faster, packing more reps into each three minute period. Form is key, though. Do not sacrifice form for the sake of speed. It is better to do it properly than quickly. Also remember to set fitness goals and work toward them at a gradual pace. Do not push yourself too hard, too fast. You may want to see results fast, but an injury will seriously delay your workout goals. Start small, know your limits, and build gradually.

Image via WikipediaThese exercises are for your midsection, but here are a few additional tips for overall good results in your exercise routine.

Video - Ab Exercise - The Plank

Here is a short demo video of one of the exercises we mentioned on Tuesday - The Plank. It's a very simple exercise, but GREAT for the abs, and strengthens many other muscles as well. This video also gives some tips for correct form to avoid injury or strain.

Check it out, and get those abs working!

Ab Exercises: The Plank
For more free online exercise videos, visit befitandstrong.com. Don't be fooled by this ab exercise. You may not be moving while you do it, but I guarantee your muscles will be screaming for mercy.