Abdominal Exercises To Help Strengthen Your Core
There are MANY benefits to strengthening your abdominal muscles. They are one of the key muscle groups that make up your core (but you knew that already right?) When your core is strong, you can help reduce back pain, improve your posture, and prevent injuries. So are you ready to get going? These 8 exercises will put you to the test!
- Heel Touches
- Single knee raise crunch
- Reach through
- Wide toe touches
- Starfish crunch
- Windmills
- Plank
4 quick tips to getting those chiseled abs…
Despite diet experts and new research constantly telling you otherwise, many people still consume the bulk of their calories in two or three large meals each day, often—in an attempt to slim down—going for hours at a time eating nothing in between. Sure, you can lose weight on a reduced-calorie three-meal plan, but you can’t make your body burn fat more efficiently, which is key to long-term weight loss.
The human body is a bit confusing: By the time it tells you it needs nutrients, it’s already deficient. In fact, those hunger pangs are your body’s last-ditch efforts to convince you to eat.
Stay ahead of the curve by eating before your stomach starts growling. If you’re pressed for time, consider the following: A meal can consist of a four-ounce chicken breast, a small baked potato and a salad, all of which can be made the night before and require minimal preparation time. Dining can also be as simple as a low-sugar nutrition bar—make sure to look for one substantial enough to replace a meal—or small protein shakes and bananas.
POWER EVERY MEAL WITH PROTEIN
While eating anything raises your metabolic rate, protein boosts it the most. Chicken, turkey, beef, egg whites and cottage cheese are just a few of the choices you have for high-rev foods. Protein is also essential to building muscle, and the more muscle you carry, the more efficiently your body will burn the fat you’re trying to fry. And don’t forget about breakfast!
DIVERSIFY YOUR CARBS
When planning meals, you may be tempted to stick to a few familiar sources of carbs. But your system works better when you keep it guessing, so don’t let yourself get caught in a rut. Eating a variety of carbs, even some simple sugars, is desirable for athletes, according to the Journal Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning.
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