The Two Greatest Myths About Abdominal Exercises

If you have ever read a fitness magazine...

If you have ever watched TV ads about latest machines that willmagically reveal your abs...

If you have ever gone to a gym and saw tens of people lying onthe floor doing crunches....

then beware because chances are you are a victim of the twobiggest abdominal training hoaxes!

Myth No: 1

Just doing some midsection exercises can reduce your "lovehandles".

Fact

You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your bodyjust by using exercise alone.

And the abdominal area is no exception.

So if you want to get a flat stomach and to reveal your abs,losing the fat covering them is the way to go.

And the only way to do this is to lose fat proportionately fromyour entire body by burning more calories than you consume.

How? By doing these two things:

1) Have a healthy and balanced permanent diet: dark greenvegetables, fresh fruits, whole wheat and whole grain products,non-fat dairy products, fish, poultry breast, lean red meat, eggwhite.

Yes, you should cut out all sugar, soda, non-whole grain productsand saturated fats: these aliments should only be a reward forachieving a goal, not a habit!

2) Start exercising

Aerobic and weight training will raise your metabolic rate. Inresult, your body will burn more calories.

* aerobic exercising

3 times per week, practice an exercise that keeps your heart rateelevated for at least 30-45 minutes (ex: walking, running,cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc)

* weight training

Alternate days of aerobics with weight training. You will buildmuscles that will burn more calories, even when at rest!

Myth No: 2

You have to do tons of crunches.

Fact

Overuse of crunches will only shorten your abs, pull your headforward and gives you a bad posture. Do you really want to lookslike Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?

Any standing exercise that will contract your abs will do but youshould specifically target your lower back to strengthen themuscles that support your spine.

The easiest exercise is sucking the gut in, also known as the"stomach vacuum" :

1. Exhale. Suck your gut in.

2. Maintain the contraction for 10 to 20 seconds.

3. Repeat 10 to 15 times, as often as you like throughout the day(for example while in the shower, sitting at your desk, whiledriving or in the bus).

Time now for YOU to take action!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.