When
discussing fitness goals with clients, one of the most requested objectives is
"a 6 - pack like ...(underwear model, athlete...take your pick). Many people, however
are not willing to make the lifestyle changes necessary to achieve the low levels of body
fat necessary to achieve the washboard look so highly coveted. That's okay, though,
because the benefits of abdominal training far outweigh those of having a sexy 6 pack. A
strong stomach promotes good posture and helps keep you free from back problems as well as
helping to overcome existing back problems.
So, here is a start. The following are "myths" that I hear
most frequently regarding abdominal training and clearing them up will have you well on
your way to developing a stronger stomach.
Myth #1: You need to
train your abs everyday. When it comes to training, your abs are like every other muscle.
Fact: In order to get the most
benefit, you have to train them hard and allow sufficient rest between sessions. You also
have to make them work harder. They also grow just like any other muscle and training them
disproportionately will cause them to grow disproportionate to your other musculature.
Myth #2: Doing sit ups will trim your waistline.
Fact: You can’t reduce
waistline fat simply by doing ab exercises. Spot reduction just does not happen! You need
to do ab exercises to develop the abdominal muscles. They need to be strengthened just
like your glutes or your biceps but in order to actually see those ab muscles, you need to
strip the fat that's covering them.
Myth #3: You need to do many more reps for ab exercises.
Fact: Not so. The most common
training mistake when it comes to the abs is poor technique. Not feeling it even after 100
sit ups? You’re probably working your hip flexor muscles instead of your abs. You may
also be using too large a range of motion and failing to keep tension on the abdominal
muscles throughout the entire set. Momentum is also another challenge.
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