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 will magically reveal your abs...

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

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

Myth No: 1

Just doing some midsection exercises can reduce your "love handles".

Fact

You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your body just 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 from your entire body by burning more calories than you consume.

How? By doing these two things:

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

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

2) Start exercising

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

* aerobic exercising

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

* weight training

Alternate days of aerobics with weight training. You will build muscles 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 head forward and gives you a bad posture. Do you really want to looks like Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?

Any standing exercise that will contract your abs will do but you should specifically target your lower back to strengthen the muscles 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, while driving 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.

---

The Importance Of An Active Lifestyle

Over the past 15 years or so, we have been told that a healthy lifestyle is important. Scientists recommend we should be accumulating on average 60 minutes... Read More

Exercises You Probably Dont Do But Should!

This is going to be kinda short and sweet. . . . Maybe not too sweet.Here's 3 exercises to throw into your routine that will shake it... Read More

Toning Your Abs - Common Exercising Myths

1. The 'Chew Then Crunch' MythCrunches are good exercises for toning the abs and stomach if done properly and combined with a low fat diet. However many... Read More

15 Quick Tips for People Who Dont Like to Exercise

We've all had days when we don't have the energy to tie our athletic shoes, let alone bounce around in them. But exercise can give a daily... Read More

How to Choose a Good Jogging Stroller

If you lead an active lifestyle and you want to include your new family additions in your outdoor activity then you need to consider getting yourself a... Read More

Strategies for Alleviating the Boredom Associated with Exercise

Just about every expert in the ADD field will tell you that exercise is one of the best ADD management strategies there is. According to the book... Read More

Core-Principles: The Function of Functional Training

Okay?okay?okay! Enough already!!! It seems like with every new term, every new invention or just about anything that is seemingly not "Everyday" that we all become flustered... Read More

Wise Up and Invest in Your Workout Success - Six Top Fitness Faux Pas

Already dedicated exercisers make small but costly mistakes regularly in their workouts, and one tiny change can have a huge impact on their results. Time is valuable,... Read More

How to Find a Gym and Start Exercising

There is hardly a week that passes without an article or study touting the benefits of exercise. Exercise to cure cancer, exercise to lose weight, feel better,... Read More

Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low: Part 2 of 10

My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert, professional bodybuilder, personal, trainer to movie stars, former employee of Kathy Smith and over 50, 000 hours... Read More

Super Charge Your Metabolism

1. Cardio in Combination with Strength Training- If you need to combine your cardio with Strength training then do your Cardio AFTER your Resistance Training workout. You... Read More

Exercise For Any Size

Do you feel that you can barely do any activity at all?That you cannot exercise, play sports, or become more fit?If you are a very large person,... Read More

Great Exercises To Tone & Tighten Your Butt

A question I am frequently asked by females is, "What is the best exercise I can do for my butt?" In my opinion, there is nothing better... Read More

Tips To Deal with Exercise Induced Asthma

For approximately 80-90% of people that suffer from asthma, exercise can be a strong stimulus for an attack. This syndrome has become known as exercise induced asthma... Read More

Exercise Motivation: 7 Sure-fire Tips

So you've begun an exercise program to get in shape and loose weight. Congratulations! You've taken a big step towards making big improvements in your life. However,... Read More

Stretching and the Warm up ? Are You Confused?

Lately, I've been receiving a lot of questions referring to the latest studies and research findings, and one question that I receive most queries about concerns the... Read More

The New Discovery That Makes It Possible To Get An Effective Workout In Less Time

The Art of Multifunctional TrainingPeople often complain about how they just do not have enough time to spend working out in a gym. It seems every year... Read More

How to Get Better Exercise Results By Improving Hydration

Water and ExerciseYour body excretes water in a number of ways: through urination, defecation, breathing (that's why we always enjoyed breathing condensation on mirrors when we were... Read More

Finding The Right Exercise Intensity

We've all heard the exercise guidelines that recommend we participate in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity 3-5 times per week. That seems easy enough to... Read More

Exercise and Losing Weight for Life ? Avoid the #1 Mistake Everyone Makes!

Do you ever feel like you are working out so hard and nothing seems to happen? You just can't seem to lose that last few pounds, increase... Read More

Lance Armstrong?s Training Tactics ? The Tortoise or the Hare?

I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency and nutrition for over twenty years. Every time I go to the gym I observe people, their... Read More

The Benefit of Back Exercises

Back exercises are often prescribed effectively as an alternative to surgery. Doing daily back exercises can significantly reduce back pain related to a variety of common ailments.... Read More

Keep Exercise Journals For Real Results

Always make sure to keep a detailed training journal. By keeping a journal of your training sessions, you will have a detailed log of your every exercise... Read More

Exercise and Heart Health: A Life Giving Marriage

Most people get their health out of a bottle these days, be it a bottle of vitamins or pharmaceuticals. However, with a little effort and dedication you... Read More

How to Get The Most From Your Home Workouts

A recent study found that home workouts may do even more good than workouts at a gym. This is good news for people who are time crunched... Read More

Top 10 Most Outrageous Exercises I?ve Ever Seen

In the course of my experience working and training in gyms, I've seen people doing some incredibly "interesting" exercises. Unfortunately, it's usually because these people have not... Read More