One thing which most guys have got in common in the gym is the quest for a ripped midsection. Indeed, at one point most gentlemen have looked for tips on how to get abs which stand out. However, they are led down a path of uncertainty.
Conflicting information is a gym user's worst nightmare. It causes self doubt, which hold you back in every aspect of your training. You begin looking for faults, rather than progress. In part, this is due to the fact that so many outdated techniques are still being widely used in gyms. These include:
* Doing 2000 crunches per day is effective.
* You should train abs every day.
* Weighted exercises will cause you to look like a bloated, unattractive bodybuilder.
The fact is the techniques above are outdated and ineffective for most individuals. How many times have you seen somebody plod through a boring, long workout consisting of little other than crunches and sit-ups in the false belief that they are going to get better results? Too many times!
These beliefs are not true.
To cause a muscle to grow or develop, you must train it in a way that stimulates the reaction you are aiming for. It won't do it by request. You wouldn't do 5000 reps on a biceps curl, so don't do it for your stomach. You probably have an arm routine which targets triceps, biceps and forearms effectively. You might even split it even further, targeting the long head and short heed of the biceps effectively. But do you do that for abs, or is it just endless crunches?
The following routine will get you started:
1. 20 x Crunches
2. 20 x Leg Raises with a Swiss Ball
3. 20 x Straight-Leg Crunch
Perform the routine in a circuit, pushing out all reps before resting for 2 minutes and doing the circuit again. Four rounds of this three-step circuit is all you need to get on the right track to building a solid six pack.
But why will this relatively short workout outperform long, 2000-rep workouts?
Two reasons. First of all, it doesn't just focus on crunches. Have you ever known somebody who has developed the two muscles at the top of the six pack, but very little else? That's because crunches only hit that area. To target the lower region of the stomach you must add exercises like the reverse crunch into the mix.
It also ensures you keep the intensity high, which will result in more fat loss. Providing you are following a solid diet, you will notice these effects quite quickly.
However, if you harbor ambitions of developing a lean torso you need to pay particular attention to the following word, otherwise you will fall into the biggest trap most guys make in the gym. That word is variety. Even if your existing workout is good, it will not stimulate fresh results forever. The body is a clever machine built only to progress when it is physically incapable of performing it's tasks in it's current state. You must continue adding new exercises and changing your approach to keep it guessing.
Learning how to get abs is not as difficult as it once was. There is quality information out there and I encourage you to go find it in your own time. Look to develop your routines even further by adding weighted exercises into your workouts. Ignore the myth that weighted exercises will give you big, bulky, unattractive abs - the reason bodybuilders have bulky abs is the fact that they are using human growth hormone, which causes the intestines to bloat up and push their abs out, it has nothing to do with using weights during their abdominal workouts.
Conflicting information is a gym user's worst nightmare. It causes self doubt, which hold you back in every aspect of your training. You begin looking for faults, rather than progress. In part, this is due to the fact that so many outdated techniques are still being widely used in gyms. These include:
* Doing 2000 crunches per day is effective.
* You should train abs every day.
* Weighted exercises will cause you to look like a bloated, unattractive bodybuilder.
The fact is the techniques above are outdated and ineffective for most individuals. How many times have you seen somebody plod through a boring, long workout consisting of little other than crunches and sit-ups in the false belief that they are going to get better results? Too many times!
These beliefs are not true.
To cause a muscle to grow or develop, you must train it in a way that stimulates the reaction you are aiming for. It won't do it by request. You wouldn't do 5000 reps on a biceps curl, so don't do it for your stomach. You probably have an arm routine which targets triceps, biceps and forearms effectively. You might even split it even further, targeting the long head and short heed of the biceps effectively. But do you do that for abs, or is it just endless crunches?
The following routine will get you started:
1. 20 x Crunches
2. 20 x Leg Raises with a Swiss Ball
3. 20 x Straight-Leg Crunch
Perform the routine in a circuit, pushing out all reps before resting for 2 minutes and doing the circuit again. Four rounds of this three-step circuit is all you need to get on the right track to building a solid six pack.
But why will this relatively short workout outperform long, 2000-rep workouts?
Two reasons. First of all, it doesn't just focus on crunches. Have you ever known somebody who has developed the two muscles at the top of the six pack, but very little else? That's because crunches only hit that area. To target the lower region of the stomach you must add exercises like the reverse crunch into the mix.
It also ensures you keep the intensity high, which will result in more fat loss. Providing you are following a solid diet, you will notice these effects quite quickly.
However, if you harbor ambitions of developing a lean torso you need to pay particular attention to the following word, otherwise you will fall into the biggest trap most guys make in the gym. That word is variety. Even if your existing workout is good, it will not stimulate fresh results forever. The body is a clever machine built only to progress when it is physically incapable of performing it's tasks in it's current state. You must continue adding new exercises and changing your approach to keep it guessing.
Learning how to get abs is not as difficult as it once was. There is quality information out there and I encourage you to go find it in your own time. Look to develop your routines even further by adding weighted exercises into your workouts. Ignore the myth that weighted exercises will give you big, bulky, unattractive abs - the reason bodybuilders have bulky abs is the fact that they are using human growth hormone, which causes the intestines to bloat up and push their abs out, it has nothing to do with using weights during their abdominal workouts.
About the Author:
About the author: You can discover how to get abs with the complete workout clip from Russ Howe PTI. Russ is a successful trainer who answers tough gym myths such as should you train abs with weight and more on his fitness and nutrition blog each week.
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