I'll be honest... the average person doesn't possess the
patience required to maintain a great set of abs. They lack the
discipline and determination needed to achieve
their goal. Many people go on "quick fix" fad diets in an effort
to reduce their midsection. These fad diets are usually highly
effective, and do as they're supposed to do.
Common Problems People Have
The problems begin the minute you go back to old eating
habits. Going back to old eating habits results in a rebound
effect. This rebound happens every time you diet, then go off
of the diet.
Each time you rebound, you gain more and more. The only way
to permanently maintain quality abdominal muscles is to get
serious and actually change your lifestyle. Motivate yourself!
Diets don't work... lifestyle changes are what work.
There are no quick fixes. You can get a skin fold or
liposuction, but they also are only temporary fixes. The fat
will replenish itself eventually. Even then, you still have to
change the way you live, as far as eating and maintaining
good health are concerned.
You don't really have to eat healthy or make special
arrangements to wake up at 4:00am to train... and don't
waste time counting meal calories, or using a crazy point
system. That's no way to live. You don't have to make
drastic lifestyle changes. It can be something as simple as
switching from soda to juice. It's easy!
Remember: The true secret to obtaining great abs is mainly in
the diet coupled with a solid training program. You can have the best abs in
the world, but if fat covers the underlying abdominal muscles,
they'll never have visibility.
Ab Training Myths
Here Is A Question Sent In By A Viewer:
I understand that diet is the most important aspect
of ab development. I also would like to know your
opinion of ab machines in general we get from the TV ads.
I would like to hear your opinion. I know these products are
all grossly overpriced. I have had some problems with my
back, which has caused me to give up squatting and make
some ab exercises uncomfortable. Do you think any of these
machines will help some merit for someone in my
circumstance?
Answer: To answer your question, the answer is yes and no;
but I'm definitely leaning more toward the no. Here's why any
of these products including the Ab-doer, Ab Dominator, Ab
Swing, Ab Roller Plus, Toros Track, Toros Tiger, Smart Abs
and I could go on and on...
Typically, any machine that involves gripping handles out to
the side, in front for support aren't good because once you
begin to get tired, your body will naturally have a tendency to
use the arms to force the abdominal motion, taking the abs
out of the picture almost completely and asking your back to
do more work setting you up for injury.
I've tested similar gym equipment, which use handles in
almost the same position as these machines. It shouldn't
differ that much. Even though you're sitting upright as with
the AB-DOer or lying prone as with the torso track. Each tend
to focus on a specific area to the detriment of full range of
motion.
If you are going to get the latest product, get the Ab Swing. You
are only moving your body in one direction or plane of motion.
As you increase strength in that area you will then create an
overload syndrome and set your self up for muscle imbalances
that may cause injury.
Another example is the AB-DOer if you were to turn this
product clockwise, you would clearly be able to see this. I
understand the AB-DOer uses a circular rotating motion, but
50 percent of that exercise doesn't even incorporate
abdominal muscles. The other 50 percent uses the lower back
muscles.
Now, a product like this may feel better on your back
(regarding my yes answer), but I doubt it. Here's a self-test
you can try: Sit in a chair with your back pressed against the
chair's back. Pretend to have your arms out to the side, just
as the AB-DOer displays. Now contract and crunch your abs. You probably felt a slight lower back strain because the body
is naturally designed to slouch down when you try to crunch
the abs from an upright position.
This lower back strain can
actually feel more acute if you add the resistance of the AB-
DOer. There's one exception to the rule: Sometimes, gym
abdominal equipment will have the same range of motion as
the AB-DOer, using weights, but no hand grips. The difference
is the fact that you're pushing a padded weight forward with
your chest.
This range of motion naturally keeps your back straight mainly
because you must push the weight forward. You can do a test
to see what I mean by finding an adjustable chair, lowering it
so that a desk edge is at chest level,and pressing against it.
Your upper body is "forced" to stay straight in order to push
the weight forward. It won't allow you to slouch down, as the
AB-DOer will.
Thanks,
david@fit-zone.com
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