Why Do Stomach Exercises?

Exercises for the stomach muscles are among the most popular type of exercise done among people wanting to build a better body. When anyone plans a workout program to build and strengthen muscles, abdominal workouts are always included in the routine. Why is this? Why are more people concerned with their stomach muscles then any other part of their body?
   
Image via WikipediaThere are several reasons for this. The first reason should be for health reasons. It has been documented that people carrying around a lot of extra fat around their stomachs are at a greater risk of certain health conditions then people that may be carrying the weight in other areas of their body. This reason alone is enough to entice many people to exercise their stomach muscles, and a major reason why doctors suggest doing exercises for the stomach. 
     
The stomach is the core of the person's body, when the stomach is strong; it helps make the rest of the body look and feel stronger. This is another reason to do exercises for the stomach. Most people want to feel strong and be strong, whether it is so they can do their jobs, play with their children or just to feel better about themselves. Also, when the stomach is strong, it helps to take away pressure from several muscles in the back. Considering that back problems are a big problem with many people, this is another good reason to keep the stomach muscles strong by exercising them.   
   
The next reason, and usually the biggest reason for many, is looks. People tend to think that a flat, sexy stomach equals an overall good looking body. There are not too many people that find a bulging stomach attractive. When people look in the mirror, or someone passes by them that they want to impress, usually a natural reaction is to suck in their stomach.
   
Women that have just had a baby are usually extra concerned with their stomach muscles, and find themselves wanting to do exercises for the stomach as soon as they are able to. This is not only for appearance sake but also for health reasons since their stomach muscles really need to be strengthened after their bodies have been put through childbirth.
   
Image via WikipediaHealth and looks are the primary reasons to do exercises for the stomach, but people have many different reasons motivating them to actually do exercises for the stomach. Perhaps swimsuit season is coming up, which is usually the time most people really get interested in doing exercises for the stomach and they just want to look their best. Maybe a high school reunion is coming up and a person wants to look extra good, or a person is getting married which is another very popular time for wanting to tone up stomach muscles. Maybe their doctor has told them they need to or maybe it is just to have more self confidence in them. No matter what the reason may be, as long as the person is motivated enough to continue their program until they see results then the reason is a good one.

Be sure to check out other articles on this blog, and check back later this week for some great stomach exercises and a fun and effective ab workout!

Stomach Exercise All-Stars

There are plenty of stomach exercises out there for those who want to shape their core and strengthen their midsection. This may be both a blessing and a curse. It is easy to find plenty of exercises and routines that work the midsection, but how does one know which ones are any good?

Image via WikipediaWell, listed here are what appear to be some of the best around, according to recommendations by fitness experts. If you want to work on your stomach, but are not sure where to start, then this "all-star team" may be a good jumping off point. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.
     
Crunchless Crunch
Regular crunches are great for working the rectus abdominus (the muscles at the front of your stomach), but they do very little for the transverse abdominal muscles deeper in the midsection, plus they tend to put strain on your back and neck. This first exercise corrects that, working the transverse muscles with no back or neck strain. 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.

1. 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. 
2. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. 
3. 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.

Image via WikipediaHip Lift
Remain on your back for this stomach exercise.

1. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. 
2. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. 
3. Now, contract your ab muscles so that it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. 
4. Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight upward. 
5. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

Long Arm Crunch
For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat.

1. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you are reaching above your head. 
2. Contract your abs and slowly lift your arms, head and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. 
3. Hold it, then slowly lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set. Be careful not to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head.

Some other honorable mentions include the vertical leg crunch, torso twists, and any Pilates routine that emphasizes the core. Feel free to research some of these exercises more once you have mastered the three above. Now that you are armed with some of the better stomach exercises, you are on your way to a trimmer tummy!

What Are The Best Stomach Exercises?

It is only natural that most people want to look their best, and exercising your stomach muscles is usually a huge part of most fitness programs. If so much time and energy is going to be focused on this muscle group, it is a good idea to know what the best stomach exercises are. There are many resources available for finding the best stomach exercises, and plenty of people to say what they consider the best, so how can a person decide for themselves which truly are the best exercises for working their stomach muscles?

Image via WikipediaFirst of all it is important to note that the best stomach exercises are those that a person is willing to do! No matter how effective the exercise is, if a person isn't going to do them consistently the exercise will not benefit that particular individual. It is also important to note that the best stomach exercises do not necessarily require equipment to perform them, although some machines and equipment may work quite well for some people.

When a person decides on a fitness program that includes stomach exercises, it is best to include stomach exercises that work the different parts of the stomach. If a person simply concentrates on one area of their stomach, there workout will not be as effective. The best stomach exercises, combine working the oblique, which are the side muscles, the lower abdominals, the mid section and also the upper section.

Some of the most popular stomach exercises are crunches. These are a very effective exercise and very convenient since they can be performed anywhere without any equipment. The next stomach exercise that is also very popular and goes along with the basic crunch is the side crunch, which works out the oblique.

Image by Daniel Conway via FlickrSome people consider the best stomach exercises to be included in a Pilates workout. The reason for this is because in Pilates, the whole focus is on the core of the body which is the abdominal, or stomach muscles. Every movement in a Pilates workout will work the stomach muscles either directly or indirectly.  These exercises can be found on the internet, either the exercise itself or video's that can be purchased.

Another good exercise that some fitness experts considers to be one of the best stomach exercises involves laying flat on your stomach, leg straight and then raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and keeping your body straight as if doing a pushup. Hold this position as long as you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole stomach.

Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise that does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to certain movements. Anyone serious about working on the abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different stomach exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with. If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best and the person should find what works best for them.

Check back Thursday for a fun abdominal workout I think you'll love!

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.

Ab Workout Tips

Wrapping up our all-about-the-tummy week, here is an article with a lot of great suggestions and tips for some fun ways to work your abdominals. It doesn't have to all be crunches!  Remember we are big on fun here - there are a lot of great ways to work your abs that are more fun than you would think - from bicycling to dancing, here are some great ideas.  (Or check out one of our favorites - Pilates, Hip Hop Abs, or Yoga Booty Ballet - this one kicks your tummy's butt!)

Workout Tips – Ab Workouts That Change You
Dancing is one of the best ab workouts you can do, and different types of dance will work different muscle groups. There are a lot of gyms offering dance classes now and those classes can be quite a lot of fun, ...
Publish Date: 07/02/2011 5:58
http://www.hivtips.org/workout-tips-ab-workouts-that-change-you.html


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