Did you know that even if you spent an hour a day doing crunches, your abdominal muscles would still be less than perfect? The fact is, countless hours of exercise are leaving people disappointed everywhere. Part of the reason is that the muscles are not being targeted in the right way – so while some muscles are being strengthened and toned, others are being left behind. No wonder so many people give up on their abs and focus on muscle groups that seem easier to work on.
Time for a quick anatomy lesson. Four muscle groups make up the larger group that is referred to as the abdominal area. The first underlying structure is Transverse Abdominis. If you take a deep breath in and push it out , you will feel the Transverse Abdominis at work. The second underlying muscle group are the Internal Obliques. They lie along the sides of your waist underneath the third group, which are the External Obliques. Both sets of Obliques help the body to twist side to side. Last, and certainly not least, are the Rectus Abdominis muscles, which are fondly referred to as the six pack.
Each group of muscles has a specific function, which can be enhanced by proper exercise. Now that you know about all four sets of muscles, you can be sure to give each group some attention, which will result in better appearance and increased performance in all kinds of activities.
The Transverse Abdominis are strengthened by exercises which are commonly referred to as “lower abs” exercises – for example, leg raises will work this group. Both sets of Obliques are worked with exercises that emphasize a twisting motion. Be careful with exercises that require you to twist your body, especially if they are weight assisted. The Obliques are connected to the Lumbar system and it is easy to injure your back if you overexert them. The Rectus Abdominis are strengthened with crunches, sit ups, and leg raises, as well as weight assisted exercises designed especially for them.
There are so many options for exercising your abs that it can be confusing to find the right workout or routine. You need to be sure to exercise your whole body and get plenty of cardiovascular exercise, as well. A big part of revealing the structure of the abdominal muscles is reducing excess body fat, so you should take that into consideration as well. Many people who are interested in finding the perfect balance between strength training and cardio have discovered that workouts which take care of both needs simultaneously are ideal. RevAbs is a good example of such a workout, and as the name suggests, it really does a great job of taking the body’s overall fitness to the next level. RevAbs takes the guesswork out of your exercise routine and specifically targets all four groups of abdominal muscles throughout the workout.
With just a little planning, along with some basic knowledge, you can have the best body possible. A happy, smoothly functioning body will help you enjoy life to the fullest!
About the Author: Jake is a fitness junky that whats to get you off your butt so you can get fit and healthy. You should try the Get Insanity Workout Deluxe. Or a new workout called RevAbs Workout with Brett Hoebel.
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