The benefits of strong abs

Posted on fitness

Do you sometimes envy other people for their six-pack or flat stomach? No reason to be jealous — here you too can find out how you can strengthen your abdominal muscles and the benefits of a strong core.

Tired of sit ups? There is good news: You don't have to torture yourself for hours to get a dream body. A combination of abdominal exercises, endurance training and a healthy diet, tones and strengthens your abdominal muscles and allows unnecessary fat to fall. You can read here why the hard work for a six-pack pays off and what other benefits (other than JUST a dream body and more self-confidence) are noticeable as a result.

Improved health:
According to Dr. Lopez Jimenez, the lead author of a study looking at body mass index and the ratio of waist to hip circumference in relation to heart risks,”Being overweight in the center of the body has the same effect as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.“In other words, a beer belly is bad for our health and you should start strengthening your abs as soon as possible.

General fitness:
Exercises that focus on abdominal muscles are the key to the desired six-pack — but the workout doesn't end there. Endurance training is essential to burn annoying belly fat so that the abdominal muscles become visible. It also trains your entire body, which leads to an improvement in overall fitness.

Improved posture:
The posture can quickly suffer from weak abdominal muscles, which further stress and strain the body. Strong abdominal muscles bring many benefits to your posture and prevent poor posture — injuries and damage can therefore be prevented.

Prevent low back pain:
Your abs play a big role in supporting your back and tilting your pelvic muscles — the stronger your abs, the better for your back. In this way, back pain can be alleviated and future injuries prevented.

Ready to feel the benefits of strong abs on your own body? Then get started! You don't need any tools — just yourself, lots of motivation and a mat to protect your back. Here are the first three steps to a dream six-pack:

Plank (forearm support)
You lie with your belly side on the mat, your upper body is supported on your forearms and your elbows are bent 90 degrees. The right position is the key to success, so make sure your elbows are just below your shoulders. Now push your toes up and activate the center of your body by retracting your stomach. It is best to hold this position for 1-2 minutes.

Crunches (abdominal presses)
Start lying on your back with your legs on the floor hip-width apart. Place your hands on either side of your head, next to your ears, and keep your elbows as low as possible. Activate your abdominal muscles with a view of the ceiling and now lift your shoulders 10 centimeters off the floor — keeping your lower back on the mat. Then slowly sink back down to the ground — 50 repetitions.

Biking
Just as with the “crunches” exercise, the goal here is also to strengthen the abdominal muscles and oblique muscles. Lie flat on the mat with your lower back on the floor, stomach pulled in, and activate your abs. Place your hands behind your head next to your ears and keep your elbows down. Then slowly bring your knees towards your chest and stretch your right leg in the air - turning your upper body to the left and touching your left knee with your right elbow. Then do it on the other side to complete the repetition - 30 repetitions.

Posted on fitness