Why are Abdominals Important?

You’re probably asking yourself, “Why are abdominals important?” I think it’s good that you raised that question.

It’s important that you recognize the different parts of your abdominal muscles and their functions before kicking off your abs workout. That way, you avoid any untoward injuries that could render you incapable of performing abdominal muscle exercises. It will also prepare you for any other future fitness goals.

We all know from the gecko that six pack abs are hot. But that only covers aesthetics. Have you ever wondered about the importance of well-conditioned abs in relation to overall physiological performance?

The body is a very complicated piece of machinery, and every part of it is crucial. Muscle groups, including your abdominal muscles, are especially significant because they determine physical strength and resistance. That is mainly why abdominals are important – the stronger they are, the more efficient your body gets.

You’re probably aware that the abdominals are situated between the ribs and pelvis. What you might NOT know is that your abdominal muscles are responsible for shielding your internal organs from external blows and giving your upper body a full-range of motion.

Why are abdominals important and what are the parts called? They are divided into four major parts namely:

  1. Transversus abdominus
  2. Rectus abdominus
  3. External oblique
  4. Internal oblique

Each of these sections is equally essential so you have to keep them strong and conditioned.

The Transversus Abdominus is the innermost layer of abdominal muscle responsible for stabilizing your torso and maintaining internal body pressure. You can just imagine how things can be if this part of your abdominals was weak.

The Rectus Abdominus, which can be found in front of the pelvis and in between the ribs and pubic bone, is responsible for horizontal and vertical movements. It is also responsible for giving off the six pack indentation. So when you say “ripped” or “washboard,” you’re actually referring to the well-defined Rectus Abdominus.

The External Obliques are located on each side of the abdomen. Now these muscles make it possible for you to twist from side to side. They also maintain abdominal pressure.

The Internal Obliques, on the other hand, can also be found on each side of your abdomen, directly beneath the external obliques. Their main function is to provide support to your external obliques every time you lean over or twist around.

Now that you know what the 4 main parts are, you can better develop and effectively carry out your abdominal training routine. Six pack abs are definitely more than just something nice to look at. Think about it – they were put there for a reason.

Why are abdominals important and how can they keep you safe? Having a strong core means that you can easily prevent neck and back injuries. By working your abdominals, you are allowing your midsection to bear some of the weight and the pressure. Also, it helps provide support so that you always keep your balance and your body remains upright.

“Why are abdominals important?” – now you know why. So start building those abs, not just to look good, but also to maximize motion and prevent injury.

What new insights have you realized about your abdominals? Feel free to share them by entering your comments below.

Shocking Truths about Foods with Hidden Sugar Disguised as “Healthy”

You are probably aware of the negative effects of consuming too much sugar. Obesity, fatigue and type-2 diabetes? Yes, these are the major and scary snags. However, the problem is you might be unaware that you are consuming high amounts of sugar. This is because there are many so-called healthy foods that actually contain a high amount of sugar. Sugary foods disguised as “healthy” are deceiving and unfair, I know!  So if you’re serious about evading sugar intake, you do not want to miss these shocking facts. Here are some of the most common healthy foods with hidden high amount of sugar that could trick you.

 1. Juice

Juice or Soda? Which one is better? Grabbing a can of juice instead of soda thinking this is a healthier option can actually play havoc to your weight and might even lead you to hefty hospital bills in the future just the same. Listen to this, most canned or bottled juice contain almost the same amount of sugar as soda. If you want to drink juice, go with the unsweetened variety or freshly squeezed juice. Better yet, stick to water. Think about this before supping a glass of orange juice every morning.

2. Instant Oatmeal

Everyone knows oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfast staples. However, instant flavored oatmeal is easier to prepare and tastes a lot more delicious. Do you want to know why it tastes better than regular oatmeal? The answer is sugar! Here’s a fact for you. Instant oatmeal contains about 15 grams of sugar. If you want a healthy breakfast, go with regular oatmeal and add some fresh fruit like bananas.

3. Protein Bars

High protein foods are ideal snacks because these keep you full longer compared to high carbohydrate foods. Protein also helps keep blood sugar level stable. This is why protein bars are very popular today and is known as one of the best snack items. However, read the label carefully because most protein bars have around 15 grams of sugar to make them taste good. The good news is that there are sugar-free protein bars available if you want a convenient and healthy snack.

4.Dried Fruits

Of course you’ve heard that munching a fruit rather than sweet treats like donuts or cupcakes is a step closer to weight loss and a healthy body. Obviously because fruits are rich in nutrients, low in calories and high in fiber. Without doubt, your tummy will thank you. However, it is best to stay away from dried fruits. Here’s my confession. Fruits are naturally high in sugar and dried fruit is a lot worse because these are usually sprinkled with sugar powder. ¼ cup of dried fruit contains up to 20 grams of sugar… yikes!

5. Sports Drinks

It’s pretty funny how some people spend 30 minutes to 1 hour burning calories through cardiovascular exercise in the morning then eat a big bag of chips in the evening. It’s even funnier when these people are consuming high-sugar sports drinks while doing their cardio hoping to lose weight. It’s like banging their heads against a wall! To stress again, if losing weight is your goal, then hydrate yourself with plain water instead of a sport drink. Warning: A 12 ounce sports drink contains around 42 grams of sugar.

So there you go. Given these facts, I hope the hidden sugar in so-called “healthy foods” can no longer mislead you. Eat healthy. And hey, remember to check the label.

Know of other foods that have hidden sugar content? Add to this list by entering them below.

4 Great Diet Tips to Get Rid Of Belly Fat

Exercises such as weight training, stretches, flexes and cardio alone will not get you those six pack abs. To be able to totally get rid of belly fat and unveil that well-sculpted figure, you must also consider a successful diet plan.

If you are only exercising, you will most likely be inclined to eat more. To successfully get rid of belly fat, it is important to also monitor your eating habits. All your hard work will be put in vain if you are still living an unhealthy diet.

Avoiding tempting foods which are bad for your health will take a lot a discipline. Well, it will all be worth it when you get six pack abs in the end. So let me help you by giving the top 4 tips to help you follow a successful diet.

1. Change into a Better lifestyle.

If you want to get rid of belly fat for good and achieve your six pack abs goal, you must commit yourself to change your lifestyle completely. Being a constant beer drinker or a smoker will do you no good.  If you’re someone who loves unlimited French fries with those half-pound cheeseburgers, then, as much as possible, avoid eating these top-greasers.

Changing your lifestyle doesn’t mean that you have to completely avoid eating your favorite foods. It only means that from now on, you will have to monitor your intake and take things in moderation.  You must learn which types of food will be good for your workout.

2. Remember the Golden Rule in Dieting.

Remember this simple fact: do not consume more than what you put out. This golden rule in any dieting and exercise plan is the most crucial. Balance and maintenance should always be a priority. When you eat more than you exercise, you will not get rid of belly fat. Likewise, if you exercise and not eat at all, you are prone to weakness, dehydration and over exhaustion.  This can also cause other harmful effects on your body like muscle loss.

3. Be your own coach and watch-guard.

Constantly remind yourself of your six pack abs goal. Envision your physique once you achieve your goals. Let this be your personal motivation to continue your endeavor. Don’t forget to also be your own watch-guard.  There are times when your favorite greaser foods or the ice-cold beer will be quite a temptation. Remember balance and moderation along with the right discipline will get you six pack abs.

4. Keep Track of Your Progress.

The key to get rid of belly fat with a successful diet is to keep track of your progress. Even if it’s half an inch off your waist or consuming the planned meal, always write down your progress.

So, to get six pack abs you need a healthy lifestyle, well-balanced diet, self discipline and make a list of your progress. By doing all these 4 tips, you will get rid of belly fat fast and it’s not impossible. A lot of people succeeded already, and so can you!

What diet strategies can you share? Enter your own comments below.

4 Easy Techniques to Maximize Abs Exercises at Home

Working those abdominal muscles in the gym is just as effective as doing them in the privacy of your home. Whether you perform your abs exercises at homeor some place else, you still get a regular dose of core strengthening.

Since you don’t require heavy or complicated gym equipment for your abdominal workouts, you can do these exercises virtually ANYWHERE. That’s the beauty of these kinds of exercises.

Keep in mind, however, that to be successful in carrying out these abs exercises at home, you need to know which ones are the safest and most efficient. In doing so, your efforts are maximized and your abs get the intense workout they need.

Here’s another important point to remember: don’t be afraid to change it up. Switch your primary abs exercises at home frequently so you don’t get bored.

There are a lot of options for your abs exercises at home. These 4 easy drills ought to get you started right:

1. Bicycle Crunches. This exercise is a lot like the regular abdominal crunch, but with an added twist. Involving the lower half of your body only increases the intensity of your workout.

2. Captain’s Chair. Even without an actual captain’s chair, you can still carry out this exercise at home. All you have to do is position yourself in between two beams that are shoulder-length apart, rest your elbows on each beam, and slowly lift both knees upward. Who needs fancy gym equipment when you have gravity to work with?

3. Modified Stomach Crunches. Doing these ab exercises at home is good for your lower abdominals. Instead of moving your upper body, you will utilize lower body movements by lifting both legs off the ground gradually. Don’t forget to keep those abdominal muscles tight with every rep.

4. Full Vertical Crunches. This particular exercise will definitely make you break a sweat and, trust me, that is EXACTLY what you want. As you do regular crunches, keep both legs perpendicular to the floor. Push your feet upward as you curl in for a crunch – that should give your abs a pretty good workout.

Each one of these drills will definitely help you kick off your abs exercises at home. Push your body as far as you can with these exercises. Before you know it, you’ll have great six pack abs that everyone else would want.

3 Things You Should Know To Get Fast Abs

Fast abs are possible, with some common sense and a lot of effort. The problem with getting those abs toned quickly is that most people want them with little effort and use little common sense in the ways they try to get them.

1. Abdominal exercises are strenuous, and can cause straining and even injury if not done properly and in moderation.

You say that all exercise is strenuous?

This is true. But there is a big difference between walking around the block quickly and running a marathon.

Think about all those people who go out and shovel snow each winter, with little or no exercise during the summer months. They sit and watch television most evenings, instead of doing a small basic exercise routine. They don’t even get up and stretch regularly. Then a heavy snow falls, and they go out and give themselves strokes.

No one should embark on a specific regimen that isolates muscles, without first exercising the whole body. A general exercise plan is where you start.

2. Not everyone has the same muscle groups, hormone levels, or hereditary factors, and they shouldn’t expect the same results.

When you look at those posters of washboard abs, are you looking at 6 packs or 8 packs? There is a lower abdominal muscle called the pyramidalis, and not everyone has this muscle. Building the lower abs will give you different results if you don’t.

Women and men have different testosterone levels. Even men and men have differing testosterone levels. Testosterone is essential to building muscles.

For a long time weight lifters and athletes compensated for this factor by taking steroids, until they found out how bad that is for you. Still, some body builders and athletes took it to boost their performance, until they made it illegal. Now they disqualify people from competitions who use certain supplements or prescriptions, including steroids.

If your testosterone levels are not high, you can get a well toned magnificent body, along with those fast abs, but you won’t get a lot of bulk in those muscles. This is a plus for most women, who do not want to build, and it looks very attractive on many men, as well.

3. Some of us have hereditary factors to consider.

An irregular metabolism is the first, which can be influenced by a variety of factors. Thyroid and pituitary glands may under or over function along with the pancreas, to mention a few. The problem may not be severe enough to require medication, but it will affect they way you gain and lose weight, and how fast you can do it.

A visit to the doctor for a physical can be helpful if you are just starting out or are having problems you don’t understand. This can clarify a lot of issues and keep you from getting discouraged, as well, if your results aren’t quite the same as you anticipated.

4. Herbal supplements may help.

If you are in the prime of health, and still not turning that body into lean muscle, you may consider some of the many herbal supplements that are on the market today. Green tea will help you lose weight. There are natural hormone derivatives that won’t harm your body, also.

The last piece of common sense is that exercise is good for you. Don’t overdue it and strain yourself, and you’ll be more likely to get great fast abs along with a healthier looking body.

Impart your own personal tips by entering your comments below.