Best Ab Exercise?

Strengthening the stomach and trying to achieve flat Abs are the focus of a great deal of training time and effort. Much of that effort is wasted due to a lack of understanding of how the Abs work and what is required to achieve a flat stomach. This bulletin aims to spell out a few basic facts underlying Abdominal training.

The abdominal muscles are made of three distinct groups:
1. rectus abdominus (six pack muscles that curl the upper body)
2. internal and external obliques (these bend and twist the body)
3. transverse abdominus (a corset of muscle that wraps around the abdomen)

Working together they provide the postural stabilization framework of the body and training must include exercise for all three areas for maximum effects. The abdominals are 'slow twitch’ type muscles. This means they have high endurance and respond most effectively to slow, high repetition exercise. As a result you should perform your Abs exercises in a slow, controlled manner and complete them 5-7 days a week.

The effectiveness of regular Abs exercise can be easily over-shadowed if you do not undertake enough Cardiovascular training. Abs exercise will not reduce your waistline and so, regular 'cardio’ workouts are essential to reveal the fruits of your abdominal exercises.

Try this routine to start with, it will target all areas of the abdominals:

swiss ball crunches – 2 x 20
bicycles – 2 x 20 (slowly)
hanging knee raise or double crunch – 2 x 15/20
plank – hold x 2 as long as possible


m: 07932 757 636
www.ncfitness.co.uk