"The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince."
- Vince Lombardi
Since most of the questions I’m asked are about abdominal muscles (affectionately (?) known as “abs”), this week all sections of the newsletter will focus on this very important subject.
Strong abdominal muscles
• reduce the likelihood of back pain
• improve posture, body alignment and balance, and
• make every movement of our body more efficient.
Imagine if you could improve the effectiveness of your abdominal routine by 50%; there are proven methods to effectively work your abdominals while decreasing the amount of time you spend on your abdominal training!
Read on to get valuable tips that will change the way you work your abs forever…
Enjoy the newsletter and enjoy the rest of your week!''
Cathy Morenzie
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Love ‘em or hate ‘em, your ab routine has to be a part of your overall fitness program! You’re only as strong as your weakest link, so think of your abdominals as the main link that holds your entire body together.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when training your abdominals:
According to ab expert Dr. Gilbert M. Willet, a researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Clinical Movement Science Laboratory, participants in the research study generated twice as much muscle activity when they when they sucked in their abs before curling off the floor. Visualize pulling your navel toward your spine(without squeezing your buttocks) -- this also activates the obliques (muscles on your sides) and makes each rep more effective. I always cue my clients to visualize bringing their rib cage and pelvis towards one another to maximize the effect of the crunch.
Doing 20 effective crunches 3 times a week can be more effective than doing 500 poorly executed crunches. Focus on slow controlled movements with good technique trying to accentuate each contraction.
If you put your hand on your stomach now, you should feel your abdominals contract when you exhale (breathe out). By holding your breath during your exercises, you will be limiting the work on your abs. Always exhale during the difficult part (usually on the way up) and inhale on the way down.
Research has demonstrated that your body is constantly learning how to adapt and respond to stimuli. If you continue to do the same routine, your muscles eventually become ineffective in terms of shaping your midsection. Variety is always the key to resistance training, even for the abdominal muscles. There are many factors you can change in your ab routine. Consider varying the order, the set and reps, resistance (add weights or bands), the tempo or the type of contraction (crunches vs. planks)
A study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy in 2000, showed that performing the abdominal curl-up on an unstable surface such as a Swiss ball, increased the amount abdominal recruitment by 20%. Try doing your abdominal exercises on a foam roller, Swiss ball or BOSU.
The rectus abdominis is the long muscle that runs from your upper ribs down to your pubis (also known as your six-pack). It allows your body to bend forward. The external and internal oblique muscles are located at the sides of the rectus abdominis and are responsible for rotation and side bending respectively. Lastly, the transversus abdominis hugs the whole area below your belly button like a corset – it is the deepest of the three muscles, which helps expel air out of the lungs and keep the abdomen flat. Your routine should consist of curl ups; reverse curls, oblique exercises and Pilates or yoga exercises to effectively train all of these muscles.
The neck can often take on a lot of the work of the abdominals if your abdominals are not strong enough or if you are not aware of proper technique. Keep your head and neck in line with the spine. There should be enough space to fit your fist or a tennis ball between you chin and chest. This will help you to focus of your abs and not strain your neck muscles.
Tune in next week for the Ultimate Abdominal routine. Learn the best abdominal exercise to do, how often and how long.
If you exercise regularly, follow your abdominal routine and eat a balance diet yet don’t seem to see any difference in your abdominals, you many need reassess your sodium intake. Excess dietary sodium can cause you to “hold” extra water beneath your skin, and give you that soft puffy look no matter how hard you work out.
Often when we follow a fat-free diet, we don’t realize that many of the ‘fat fighting foods’ we consume are loaded with sodium.
Be aware of the following culprits:
Check that sodium level before you buy and choose fresh or low-sodium alternatives.
Physicians often recommend keeping salt intake below 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, which is about one teaspoon of salt. The average Canadian consumes twice that amount and the average American, three or more times the amount. For more information on how to reduce the salt in your diet, contact: http://www.toronto.ca/health/pdf/nm_hold_the_salt.pdf
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Cathy Morenzie is a certified personal fitness trainer, fitness instructor, and Pilates instructor. She specializes in providing creative fitness solutions for people on the go. She has trained thousands of clients and trainers over the last 15 years. For more FREE tips like these, contact us or call 416-410-8517 to schedule your complimentary session. Can't fit personal training sessions into your schedule, no problem - try our online personal training and receive the benefits of one-on-one personal training at a fraction of the cost.
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