All About The Best Stomach Exercises

It is only natural, most people want to look their best, and exercising their 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?

First 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.

Some people consider the best stomach exercises to be included in a Pilate's 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 Pilate's 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. Any one 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.

All About Working The Transverse Abdominals

A group of muscles that often gets neglected in stomach exercise routines are the transverse abdominals, the core muscles that lie below the rectus abdominus. Most abdominal exercises target the rectus abdominus and the vertical abdominals, ignoring the transverse abdominals. Even crunches, the staple of most abdominal workouts, do nothing for the transverse abdominals.

These muscles are actually the most important to target, however, as they connect to both the lower back muscles and the rectus abdominus and for a girdle for the entire abdomen. Any routine aimed at flattening the stomach should include the transverse abdominals as a focus. Using the following exercises, you can work out your transverse abdominals and really make progress on that flat tummy. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Pelvic Tilts This stomach exercise requires lying on your back on a flat surface, such as the floor or a bench. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. Raise your pelvis (and only your pelvis) off the floor, hold momentarily, and then lower it back down. Repeat for an entire set. Maintaining a controlled movement is crucial to this exercise. This will allow you to use your abdominal muscles, rather than your body's momentum, to do the work on the exercise. Also, be sure to keep your upper body on the floor throughout.

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.

Scissor Kicks This stomach exercise also requires lying on the floor. Position your hands under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As your lower one leg, raise the other. Repeat this motion for an entire set. Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the better of you. Your upper body should remain on the floor through the entire move.

There are plenty of other exercises targeting the transverse abdominals, but these three ought to be enough to get you started. Stomach exercises like these are key to any tummy-flattening plan, and they are especially good for pregnant and post-partum women.

Lose The Belly Fat

Where does all the extra weight go? This tends to vary from person to person. I know if I put on some extra pounds, it will head straight to my stomach. However, if my wife gains weight, it typically heads for her thighs and butt area. Now, what can you do to shed this excess fat? Well, whether you're struggling to lose belly bulge or thunder thighs, there are specific exercises to get the job done right. Are you ready take the next step?

Let's talk about the old spare tire. Isn't this what folks used to call it? It's that extra chub that resides just above your waist and beneath your chest. Every day individuals are striving to lose belly fat and keep it off. However, are they going about it the right way? When I take a glance around the local fitness center, I know that they're not. You want to know why? Because the same people I saw a year ago are still walking in there and they haven't changed a bit. Sure, they do their workout regimes and break a good sweat, but they're forgetting about one crucial part. EATING HEALTHY! There is no way that some of these common gym dwellers are eating healthy. And regardless of what you think, this is half of it.

Therefore if you hit the gym five days a week for a full-body workout, but then grab a value meal at Burger King for dinner, you're wasting your time and effort. You won't lose belly fat, because you're stagnant. You basically burn calories and them consume a ton more. This may keep you at the same weight, but it won't help you excel. Not to mention that it's terrible for your heart and overall body. It's imperative to adopt healthy eating habits if you actually expect to lose belly flab and gain rock-hard abs.

Exercises for toning up! Cardio is essential for burning calories. Take your pick from treadmills, to stationary bikes, to Elliptical machines. All will get your heart rate up and help you lose belly fat. Then there are toning exercises such as crunches, knee raises and sit-ups. All of which will strengthen and tone you stomach muscles. But remember, if you don't lose belly fat first, no one's going to be able to see that six-pack shine through.

Women Health Supplements Needed To Achieve Six-pack Abs

More and more supplements for women are becoming available in the market especially for those who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. These women health supplements usually include vitamins, minerals and other acids that aim to provide the body with the nutrients it needs for the rigorous work out or to supply the amount of nutrients the body lacks.

As defined, health supplements refer to products that intend to supplement a person's need for nutrients that contain one or more ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals. These are usually taken orally and come in the form of pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid. Health supplements can easily be recognized because they are usually indicated on the label of the container along with information on nutrient contents and other claims.

For women who are gearing towards having six-pack abs, the most common supplements include products that aim to boost health and energy levels. These supplements are usually composed of vitamins including Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, and "X"; minerals that include calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium among others that are beneficial for women's health; and a set of amino acids that are said to be vital to women's physical and emotional being.

Finding the best supplements for six-pack abs

If you are training to get six-pack abs and you feel that you need health supplements, your must look for products that are complete multi-vitamin, mineral, and herbal formulas especially created and formulized for women's needs. Experts say that a good women health supplement to aid the development of six-pack abs should also have a quality formula that is composed of the most natural ingredients as well as food factors available and should not use synthetic chemicals and substitutes that can be harmful to the body.

To find the right health supplements needed to achieve six-pack abs, women should:

- consult a physician or a registered nurse first before trying on a specific supplement to know if there would be possible complications if you are dieting;

- educate one's self through simple research which can help you be familiarized with the essentials of women supplements and what they must contain and read about different minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E to make sure that you know what kind of nutrients that enter your body.

- only use the supplements appropriate for one's age to adapt to the different physical, intellectual, and emotional changes along the way;

- get feedback from people who have tried it to get first hand information about its effects and possible side effects;

- follow the instructions on the label carefully and religiously so you will not have greater risks of getting side effects and will more chances in getting the desired results.

The market is now full of supplements for women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. But before trying any of which, it is very important for you to determine quality of the health supplements by buying only to companies that are pharmaceutical GMP compliant. Also, always check the label intently to see if the health supplement is made up of cheap additive fillers like cornstarch, rice, sugar, silica, artificial colors, and flavorings. It is also of high importance to buy a health supplement with a local consumer product help line so you can for inquire about the product anytime you need to.

5 Of The Worlds Most Incredible Body Building Tips

Here's a fabulous list of body building tips that anyone can use to help maximize their gains and supercharge their workouts. From preparation to nutrition, from core exercise to recovery, these tips are designed to help you reach your body building goals.

1. Before you begin, make sure you're mentally prepared. Despite the fact that you're focused on your physical development, I've found that having the right frame of mind makes all the difference. If you don't have a naturally positive attitude, do your best to develop one. Once you've got your head on straight, you can use one of the most powerful techniques available to ensure that you reach your maximum potential: visualization. Before you create your chiseled physique, you've got to imagine the result.

2. Proper nutrition is essential to good health as well as developing maximum muscle mass. This is a body building tip that should not be ignored. A proper mix of proteins and carbs, augmented with protein powders or other supplements, as well as ensuring the proper amount of calorie intake can be the difference maker in achieving consistent and effective growth. You need the right amount of energy and the right fuel mix to power your body through strenuous body building exercises.

3. This is a classic body building tip. If you want to ensure consistent, measurable, successful gains, you've got to ensure that your workout routine contains the three core exercises that every body builder understands: the bench press, the dead lift, and the squat. While you might not consider these three to be sexy or exotic techniques, combined they provide the shortest and most efficient route to improving overall condition, developing strength, and creating those eye-opening gains you're looking for.

4. Here's a body building tip that many new to the sport don't know: you should push each exercise to your limit of fatigue. That means you need to design your sets of each exercise in such a way that near the end of the third set your muscles are failing due to fatigue. Choose a weight that allows you to complete two full sets and then the better part of a third. That ensures that you're breaking down the muscle tissue so that your body can rebuild it again.

5. Don't underestimate the importance of recovery time. Lots of overly enthusiastic body builders maintain a workout routine that doesn't have enough built-in rest time to allow their bodies to recover. Cramming as many workouts in as you can is counter-productive to your body's efforts to rebuild and recover. Space out your workouts and get plenty of sleep and give your body the chance to do what it is designed to do.

Reshaping your body requires drive and determination. Body building isn't for everyone, it requires a level of commitment and consistency that some people simply don't possess. But if you're intent on building strength and muscle mass, then you can use these body building tips to help make the most out of your workout plan.

Are Six Pack Abs Sign Of Good Health

Yes you have six pack, killer abs. Bur are you sure you are healthy? Of course you can measure a person's health on their outside appearance, but there are other ways of measuring how healthy you are aside from basing it on the midsection.

Weight of course, can tell is a person is healthy or not. But weight is also not the reliable. Doctors use body mass index or BMI to measure or judge a person's size against weight. BMI is a calculation of kilograms/meter squared. A BMI between 18 to 25 is healthy. But someone who is very fit and muscular could have a BMI greater than 25. This would classify them ass overweight.

BMI is a useless indicator for people under 16. Instead of using the weigh and height ratio, what should be factored is the person's age and potential for growth. An example would be if a child was gaining weight to quickly for their age or it they were not gaining enough weight or growing.

Body shape can also be an indicator of good health. Doctors are looking at waist measurements because they know that "apple-shape" people carry excess weight around their middle. These people can be at risk of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease. Be sure to measure your waistline. If your waistline is larger than 35 inches, you are at an increased risk of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Paying attention to your waistline helps you to avoid unhealthy eating and increase mobility or exercise.

Other health indicators would be the skin. Tan, freckles or moles that are odd shaped or growing, this probably mean an unhealthy skin. Tanning or sun exposure an age the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen and get a dermatologist opinion about spots and moles.

When brushing your teeth, check your spit. If there is blood, your gums may need attention. Bleeding gums indicate poor oral health and vitamin deficiencies. Gum disease may also be a sign of cardiovascular problems. Blood on the toothbrush or dental floss is one of the earliest and most common sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is preventable and reversible. Gums need undergo a through removal of plaque, improved daily oral hygiene practices, a good diet and nutritional supplements.

It is more than just bad breath. Gum problems can now be linked to heart disease, clogged arteries, stroke, premature birth, and diabetes. women who have preterm deliveries have more severe gum conditions with mothers with normal deliveries. People with gumdisease and tooth decay are almost twice as likely to die of heart attacks and almost three times as likely to have a stroke.

Also, feel your lips. If your lips are dry and chapped, it could signal to you that you are dehydrated, which is an unhealthy state for your body to be in. Dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue, as well as drain the moisture from your skin making it look old and dry.

Also watch out for your fingernails. Healthy fingernails and toe nails are strong, colorless and smooth. If they are yellowing, brittle, have ridges, crumbling and having white spots, then these are obvious signs that your nails are not healthy.

Nail problems can indicate viral, fungal, bacterial or yeast infection. It may also show abnormal levels of oxygen in the blood, kidney disease, thyroid disease or psoriasis and malnutrition or a vitamin deficiency.

You do not have to rely on six pack abs, biceps or lats to say something about your health and other people's health. There are telltale signs that you should never ignore.

Abdominal Exercise

Many people are bothered by lower back pain. The pain can be the result of an injury, arthritis or poor posture. No matter why the pain is there it is often debilitating. The thing that people who are not in constant pain do not realize is how much energy is taken from the person that is suffering from the pain. The pain can cause sleep deprivation which leads to the inability to concentrate and the feeling of being tired. There are many things that can be done to help with back pain. One of the most effective is abdominal exercise.

Many people do not realize how much the abdominal muscles help to support the lower back. By keeping these muscles strong the back is supported more. Exercises that stretch and strengthen the abdominal area can greatly alleviate the pain. Abdominal exercise is usually done lying on your back. For some people with severe back pain getting off the floor from a laying position can be quite difficult. For these people they can begin to strengthen the stomach muscles by performing the abdominal exercise in bed. This is not as affective as doing them on the hard surface of the floor, but it can begin the strengthening process so that the person can get to the point of lying on the floor.

Another effective and joint friendly way to begin the process of strengthening the stomach muscles is through deep breathing exercises. These are exercises that can be done in any position and at anytime throughout the day. Simply sit or stand very erect and pull in the abdominal muscles as you take in deep breaths of air. Hold the breath and slowly exhale, keeping the stomach muscles held firm. Repeat this procedure several times throughout the day. The deep breathing will also help relax tense muscles that may contribute to the pain level.

A more advanced abdominal exercise is doing belly crunches. This involves lying flat on your back with your knees raised and you feet planted firmly on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and lift the head and shoulders a few inches off the ground. Hold that position for a few seconds and go back down. Repeat this for a number of times. The deep breathing can be added to the abdominal exercise by inhaling and exhaling as you rise and fall. There are many variations that can be done with this basic exercise, such as reaching your arms out in front of you between your knees as you rise. If you alternate one arm than the next over your stomach as if you are climbing a rope you will work the abdominal muscles that are higher. Repeating these simple moves in the morning and evening will help to warm your back muscles as you prepare for work or sleep. Warming the muscles through stretching also helps to alleviate the pain.

Six Pack Abs- Do We Believe In The Right Thing

Washboard, killer, six pack abs. Good looking guys and women with excellent midsection are admired and make other people's jaw drop. If we can just do a hundred sit-ups a day, then it is possible to get the perfect abs that we want.

Myth alert!

It seems like not all the things that we heard from "experts" or overheard in the public areas are true. Maybe the reason why we are not getting those perfect abs are because we are not doing it right. Then that would be such a terrible waste of our time. So we need to know the myths and what is real to get the chiseled abs we want.

Six pack Myth 1: Abdominal muscle is different from regular muscle.

Muscle is muscle. Abdominal muscle is the same with our biceps and lats. The only difference is the location. Abdominal muscles are not resting on a bony surface, instead it is against the stomach and intestines. There is no significant difference whatsoever.

Six pack Myth 2: Strong abs means a strong back.

The key to a strong back is a balanced abdominal muscles. You can work your abs, but no more and no less than you work your other muscles throughout the day. There are heavy emphasis on working your abs, this heavy emphasis is often misunderstood to be the contributor of food health. Infomercials give the false belief that by working out just one part of your body will give your health great benefits.

Working out and exercise should not just be concerned with one part of the body. What you need is an overall body fitness to be healthy.

Six Pack Myth 3: You have to train your abs at least every other day.

They say that you need to train your abs hard enough twice a week, that is to give them time for recovery. The key is to choose exercises that fatigue your abs, so that they actually need recovery time. Include exercises that use the abs functionality. Since abs are used to stabilize the body, holding a push up position without letting your body sag will really feel and develop your abdominal muscles.

Six Pack Myth 4: To gain results, high repetitions are required.

The key to abdominal gains is the to overload. If you aim abdominal endurance, the more crunches you do each time, the more you can do later on. It does not strengthen the abs very much but it also eats up most of your time.

Six Pack Myth 5: Hard rock abs can be attained by doing a lot of sit-ups.

Many doctors say that sit-ups and crunches are the work exercises and perhaps should never be done. A common mistake done during crunches, is throwing the neck out. Crunches and sit-ups cause the abdominal muscles to be pulled to tight, this excessive pulling put stress on the neck or what is known as throwing the neck out. The overuse of crunch type exercises may even lead to the reduction of thoracic extension and contributes to bad posture.

Six Pack Myth 6: It takes years to get great abs.

Everyone has abdominal muscles, you just need to train them in the correct order and reduce the fat surrounding them. For some, it would take a few weeks. For other it may be longer. Different body type develop at different rates.

Easy Six Pack Abs-tips For Easy Workout

You are always busy. You don't have enough time to go to the gym. You don't even have time to stand up away from your computer. But you have a dream. A model's body. A six pack abdominal glory. Want to get that dream?

There are some easy abdominal exercises that you can do even at home. Here are some exercises that can easily be done:

• Crunches

Almost all people know how to do this. This exercise targets the upper abdomen. It's one of the basic but effective exercises. To perform crunches, you need to lie on a flat surface with your hands in your chest or behind you head. Contract your abs, then hold for 2 seconds, then return to your lying position. Proper crunches are in a continuous and controlled fashion. Concentrate on your abdominal muscles to pull your upper body up. Avoid using the neck or shoulders to push yourself up. This incorrect practice will cause stress and strains.

• Side Crunches

They are basically the same as regular crunches, except that the main focus is on the oblique muscles which are also called love handles. It also uses the same technique, only that you are crunching to either side of our abs. This would burn the sides of your abs.

• Lying Leg Lifts

This exercise targets the lower abs. with this kind of exercise, you are on the same position as with the crunches, you lie flat on your back and lift your legs six to twelve inches of the ground. This would exercise the muscles in the lower part of the abdomen. When performing leg lifts, place your hand under your buttock. It adds leverage and helps you get your feet elevated.

If you want to add more weight into the exercise, attach padded weights into your ankles. These weights can be purchased at the local sports store. If you do not want to buy weights, you can simply fill up old tube socks with enough clean, unused cat litter to make one or two pound weight.

• V- Crunches

It's almost like lying leg lifts except your chest is at a 45 degree angle starting out. Sit at the edge of a bench and reach back just enough to support yourself from completely lying on the bench. Once you've stabilized, bring your knees toward your chest. You would be creating a V motion. The base of the V would be your abs.

• Cat stretch

It's the same with the movements made by a cat when they stretch their back. This simple action is a quick and easy exercise. Get down on the floor with your hands and knees, with muscles relaxed and looking straight ahead. Next, tighten your abdominal muscles while thrusting you back upward as far as you can. Maintain the position for five counts before lowering your back.

• Bicycle Crunch

To do this, start y lying flat on the floor. Put your hand beside your head then raise knees up to 45 degrees angle and them perform a pedaling motion like what you do when you ride the bicycle.

• Standing Side Bends

Standing side bends encourages the loss of fats in the oblique muscles. To start, stand up straight with the stomach sucked in, legs straight and hands on the sides. Simply lean the body from left to right being careful not to rotate the hips and while keeping body facing front. There is a variety of side bends, this is the torso twists. Instead of bending side to side twist or rotate the upper body from left to right while keeping the legs straight.

You can remove your flabby stomach and replace it with six pack abs, as long as you have disciplined and of course the will to do so.