Rapid Fat Loss Diets

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Toning Abs: The Three Step Method

By Jace P. Andersen

Toning abs is not always an easy thing to do. It takes dedication, routine and a well balanced workout. Many people spend weeks on toning their abs and receive little result. What is the trick to achieving and keeping toned abs?

Strong, tone abdominal muscles can be achieved through many methods. It is popular to only do abdominal exercises and hope for results. That is generally not a good idea. In order to have flat tone abs, you must not have any fat on them.

Many people have lots of fat around their abdominal muscles. There is no way to see the tone muscle if it is covered by fat. Reducing the amount of fat around the abs sometimes makes a dramatic improvement.

Nutrition is a vital step to reducing fat. When beginning an exercise routine, always consider what is being eaten. A diet meant to reduce fat helps make exercise more productive. If exercise is done without reducing fat, it may be counterproductive.

Water is probably the least known helper for toning abs. Water assists with digestion, which can help you lose weight. It also transports nutrients, and keeps the tissues and joints lubricated. This helps prevent injury while exercising. Plus, do not forget the obvious reason to drink water while exercising - because you are thirsty!

While nutrition reduces the amount of fat going in, aerobic exercise burns the fat that is there. Aerobic exercise burns calories and increases the heart rate. Aerobic exercise can get rid of the fat around your abs. An effective abdominal workout will include aerobic exercise.

The above examples have all been about losing fat. Even with little fat around the abdominal, the muscles need to be tone. Abdominal exercises are the best way to tone those specific muscles. Listed below are exercises that are great for toning the abs.

The Bicycle Crunch: The Bicycle Crunch exercise looks like you are riding a bicycle while lying on your back. The legs are brought to the elbows and alternated. This exercise targets the rectus abdominus.

The Ab Crunch: This exercise is done on an exercise ball and is a great workout for the rectus abdominus. With an exercise ball supporting your lower back, raise your center. In order to stretch your abdominal muscles use only you abs while keeping your feet firmly on the ground.

The Vertical Leg Crunch: Another abdominal workout done on the floor. This one exercises the external obliques. While laying down, raise your legs and slightly bend the knees. Lift your shoulder blades up slightly using your abdominal muscles only.

The Reverse Crunch: This floor exercise uses the oblique muscles of the abs to raise your hips. To do this one, lay on the floor and place your hands beside you. Next, raise your legs and bend them ninety degrees. In this position, use the abdominal muscles to raise your hip.

These four exercises are a very good way to achieve strong tone abs. However, as mentioned before, it takes dedication, routine and a well balanced workout. Make sure you have a mixture of a good diet, aerobic exercise, and abdominal exercises. If you stick with it, your abs can be strong and tone in no time. - 17273

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