Are Ab Machines Really Useful

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

In this article, I will be highlighting on the myth and the truth about ab machines. Read on and decide for yourself are these ab machines really useful and do they worth your investment at all.

The Myth about ab machines: 

Your Exercise routines need to be coupled with "ab machines" to make the exercise work doubly well in helping you to get 6 pack abs.

The Truth about ab machines:

Most people have this wrong perception that in order to get 6 pack abs, they will just need to strengthen their abdominal muscles. Well, I would say that they are only 50% right. The fact is, in order to exhibit the 6 pack abs, you will have to first strip away that irritating abdominal fats that is covering your abdominal muscles. Only after you have stripped away that irritating abdominal fats then can u start the process of strengthening your abdominal muscles,and losing the abdominal fats is what the abs machines have failed to achieve.

Those abs machines or gadgets are designed and built for the sole purpose of mere strengthening of the abdominal muscles only. When it comes to losing the excessive abdominal fats, the ab machines or gadgets are totally useless in helping you to achieving that.

Forget about all the media bogus about all these so called wondrous amazing ab machines that promise to deliver you the perfect abs. And remember that only Real workout and Real nutrition strategies are able to help you to strip away those irritating abdominal fats. Real workout refers to workout that increases your metabolism and stimulates your fat-burning & muscle building hormones in your body.(Shall not elaborate on what workout is beneficial in this article )In order to reap the most benefits from the workout, you will also need to follow a nutritious diet as well. I mean, you cant be expecting to be seeing noticeable results when you are sweating all out today and eating your favorite McDonald's meal the next day.

Ok. Now, if we are to disregard the aspect about the fact that the ab machines are not useful in helping us lose fats. Lets assume that we are all great individuals with absolutely little or no abdominal fats and we would only want to strengthen on our abdominal muscles. Are these ab machines more useful or better than any abdominal exercises?

Well, I would still hold my stand that these ab machines are still not that useful after all. Yes, these ab machines may be useful with strengthening of the abdominal muscles but they are still far less effective when compared to the floor, hanging and standing abs exercises.

Therefore, my verdict would be: Try not to invest time and money on abs machines when there are other better abs exercises to help you get 6 pack ab.

Sick and tired of all the online bogus programs that just refuse to give you the 6 pack abs that you have all along dream of?

Want Real concrete information on how to get 6 pack abs?

Check out the top-rated guide for 6 pack abs that will change your life forever!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/equipment-articles/are-ab-machines-really-useful-754989.html

How to Use the Exercise Ball to Perform 3 Great Abs Exercises

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Exercise balls,being a highly versatile piece of exercise equipment provides plenty of ways to help improve your strength, balance, flexibly and co-ordination. Compared to working on a flat surface, your body needs to respond to the instability of the ball to remain balanced and by doing so, many body muscles will be engaged. These muscles will become stronger over time in order to keep the balance. Most frequently, the abdominal muscles and the back muscles will be developed the most in the process of keeping your balance.

In this article, I will highlight the 3 GREAT ABS exercise that can be executed with the exercise ball and they are as follows

1) Exercise ball ab crunches
2) Stability ball hip flexion (knee tucks)
3) Stability Ball Plank Holds

Great abs exercise 1 - Exercise ball ab crunches

Stabilize your body on a stability ball by finding your balance point for performing a crunch movement (your lower back will be on the top of the ball). Then simply crunch your upper body up while keeping your fingers on the sides of your head, chin up, and feet planted flat on the floor. Try to hold the top of the crunch for 2 seconds while forcefully exhaling and holding a tight contraction of the abdominal muscles. To make this exercise more challenging, you can move your arms straight out behind your head. For more advanced trainers, you can hold a medicine ball or weight out behind your head while completing the crunch . The addition of medicine ball in the exercise will add more resistance to the exercise making it more effective.

Recommended reps : 1 set x 10

Great abs exercise 2 - Stability ball hip flexion (knee tucks)

Start with your arms in a push-up position and your shins balancing on the top of a stability ball. Tuck your knees in under your body as you roll the ball closer to your hands and elevate your rear. Your back will come up in a hunched position and your abs will contract if done properly.

Recommended reps : 1 set x 12

Great abs exercise 3 - Stability Ball Plank Holds

Stability ball plank holds are similar to floor planks, but the instability aspect of the ball will make this exercise much more challenging to your abs and core than standard floor planks. To do stability ball planks holds, position yourself on your toes and with your forearms on the top of a stability ball. Be careful if you've never tried this before as it takes quite a bit of balance. Hold the plank position on the stability ball while you make slight 1-inch movements back and forth in every direction with your elbows to make this even more challenging. Try to hold this for 60-90 seconds. Super-studs can try for over 90 seconds hold time on this one.

Recommended reps : 1 set x 30-60 seconds

Now that you have learnt how to use the exercise ball effectively,be sure not to miss using this excellent tool the next time you hit the gym !

Sick and tired of all the online bogus programs that just refuse to give you the 6 pack abs that you have all along dream of?

Want Real concrete information on how to get 6 pack abs?

Check out the top-rated guide for 6 pack abs that will change your life forever!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/equipment-articles/how-to-use-the-exercise-ball-to-perform-3-great-abs-exercises-752469.html