Ab Workouts for 6 Packs: Using An Exercise Ball

When doing your ab workouts for 6 packs, you might want to consider using an exercise ball.

Also known as the “physiotherapy ball” or simply the “Swiss ball”, the exercise ball has become one of the most commonly used pieces of fitness equipment when doing abdominal exercises. The reason for an exercise ball’s effectiveness in building up 6 packs lies in the fact that your abdominal muscles work harder as you try to maintain a balanced and neutral position on the ball.

Studies have also demonstrated that using an exercise ball helps to strengthen both the abdominal and back muscles, and create greater spinal stability and increased lumbar mobility, thus reducing or even totally eliminating low back pain, which frequently occurs with traditional 6 pack exercises.

One ab exercise that you can perform with a physio ball is the Crunch.

Instructions:

• Lie down with your back on the ball. Keep both feet firmly planted on the floor.

• Move the ball a bit using your body so that your lower back is firmly centered on top of the ball.

• Place your hands underneath your head.

• Carefully raise your upper body forward while rolling your shoulders in the direction of your hip.

• At the top of the movement, contract your abs for one count.

• Slowly go back to starting position.

• Do 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Use an exercise ball during your ab workouts for 6 packs today!

Ab Workouts for 6 Packs: The Ideal Diet

Many people mistakenly believe that they should lose a lot of weight while doing ab workouts for 6 packs.

The truth is it is necessary to lose weight, especially if you have accumulated excess fat in your belly. The fats will actually prevent you from seeing if your abdominals have bulked up.

However, if you are already lean and just want your 6 pack to be well-defined, you should maintain a healthy balanced diet that is rich in proteins (obtained from lean meats like pork, beef or fish), fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Do not drastically reduce your intake of foods as this will only make you more prone to fatigue following your workout. For your energy requirements, eat a lot of fruits since these will be your sources for calories and energy.

If you have a medical condition like heart disease or diabetes, it is necessary to consult with your doctor for an ideal diet plan that will not aggravate these diseases. Also, do not try out any “miracle diets”, again, without any prior consultation with your physician. What would be the point of having that 6 pack if you ruin your health in the process through the foods that you eat?

Learn more about the diets in ab workouts for 6 packs today!

Ab Workouts for 6 Packs: The “Core” Defined

Whenever you listen to discussions or read articles about ab workouts for 6 packs, you will most likely hear the term “core” spoken often. But what is the core?

A lot of people – including some physical fitness trainers – say that the “core” refers to your abdominals, specifically the muscles that make up your 6 pack (the rectus abdominis). In truth, however, the core consists of several muscles that girdle the abdomen and the spine.

Major muscles in the core include the transversus abdominis (the deepest abdominal muscle), multifidus, the external and internal obliques, erector spinae (also known as the sacrospinalis), rectus abdominis, longissimus thoracis, and the diaphragm. Other core muscles are the gluteus maximus, the latissimus dorsi, and the trapezius.

What is the significance of knowing the muscles in the core? The problem is that many ab workouts for 6 packs focus primarily on the rectus abdominis without considering the other core muscles. Because the core functions to maintain stability in the spine, just working on one muscle group will lead to several health problems, such as bad posture and back pain which commonly occur with 6 pack exercises.

Learn more about the role of the core muscles in ab workouts for 6 packs today!

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