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Pizza has the potential to directly add to abdominal fat, but some of the harmful effects can be prevented by engaging in exercise one hour after eating. Exactly how fatty a piece of pizza is varies, since pizza recipes range in terms of fat content when you take into account all of the options available with ingredients and toppings. Eat pizza the smart way, and get up and move after eating, to keep pizza from widening your belly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults participate in 75 to 150 minutes of aerobic activity weekly in addition to muscle strengthening. The higher the intensity of the workout, the fewer minutes needed to reap the physical benefits of exercise. However, some people are not able to exercise vigorously due to health conditions or joint pain. This doesn't mean you are off the hook. Several kinds of gentle but effective exercise can help you maintain strength and mobility. Discuss your individual needs with your doctor to figure out what form of activity is right for you.
Compound exercises are great for working the lower stomach and lower abdominal muscle. Find out what compound exercises work the lower stomach with help from a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor in this free video clip.
Three abdominal exercises that are not traditional abdominal exercises can all be done on the Pilates Reformer. Learn about three abdominal exercises that are not traditional abdominal exercises with help from a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor in this free video clip.
Crunches and situps are no longer the only exercise options for targeting key muscles of the abdominals. Working the abdominal muscles isn’t confined to a prone position anymore, and a variety of options exist to take your ab workout from lying to standing. Using your body weight or various cable systems can still give you an intense ab workout without having to lie on the floor.
The stomach crunch is a classic exercise for toning and strengthening the abdominal muscles, especially the rectus abdominis, the long flat muscle that lies on top of the abdomen. When crunches are executed properly, the neck remains in a neutral position and is not involved with the exercise. However, a common mistake is to pull on the head as you crunch your upper body toward the ceiling; the pulling can cause stress to the neck and may result in an injury over time. Keeping the neck relaxed and in proper position allows you to work from your core rather than…
Members of the United States military must perform a regular physical fitness examination, sometimes known as a PT test. While requirements differ based on your age, gender and the branch in which you’re serving, situps are included in most PT tests. To maintain your status in the military -- or perhaps to earn bragging rights among your peers -- keep pushing yourself to improve your situp score.
Your oblique muscles wrap around your sides, stretching from the front of your abdomen to your back. And although you use them several times every day to twist and turn your torso, they are surprisingly difficult to target with a typical exercise routine. To prevent your obliques from giving you more than an inch to pinch, you’ll have to get creative with your core routine.
When you think about everything thing that has to go right, pregnancy and giving birth is truly amazing. However, those 40 weeks of gestation change your body, especially your midsection. After delivery most women expect their bodies to bounce back, but that's not how it works. It will take time to get your abs back in shape. Focusing on post-pregnancy transverse abdominal exercises will help tighten your core for a smaller waist and improved function.
When it comes to ab exercises, some are better for you than others. While the traditional crunch has long been done to work the core muscles, there are better exercises out there for your core. No exercise, however, is going to whittle your waist if there is excess fat. In order to really show off your abdominals, a healthy diet and proper total-body workout regimen are needed along with abdominal exercises. Like any muscle, you can easily overtrain your abdominals if you work them every day, so plan to train them only two to three times a week, with a…
The sternocostal head is the innermost head in the pectoral muscle. Do pectoral exercises for the sternocostal head with help from one of Los Angeles' top 20 spin instructors in this free video clip.
Women's Yoga exercises for the obliques include classic techniques like the Half Moon Pose. Do women's Yoga exercises for the obliques with help from a personal trainer in this free video clip.
Exercises that are effective at targeting the pectoral region include an isometric hold, among others. Find out about exercises that are most effective at targeting the pectoral region with help from a fitness expert in this free video clip.
The most efficient pectoral exercises include things like the incline chest press, among others. Learn about the most efficient pectoral exercises with help from a fitness expert in this free video clip.
Upright pectoral squeeze exercises require you to use a dumbbell and stand with your feet shoulder length apart. Learn about upright pectoral squeeze exercises with help from a fitness expert in this free video clip.
Maintaining good abdominal muscle control doesn't necessarily require the most intense workout you've ever tried to complete. Learn about a moderate exercise program that you can do to maintain your abdominal muscles with help from a fitness expert in this free video clip.
Developing the pectoralis minor is something you can do through techniques like chest presses. Get exercise tips for developing the pectoralis minor with help from an experienced personal trainer in this free video clip.
The best side plank exercises for the obliques require the traditional side plank, among others. Find out about the best side plank exercises for the obliques with help from an experienced personal trainer in this free video clip.
Physical activity often means improvements in cardiovascular health and weight loss. Your bones also change as you become more physically active, to adapt to handle increased demands. If you haven't exercised or have had to stop being active due to illness or injury, the density and corresponding strength of your bones may be affected.
Trampolines aren't just for fun - they can also be a really efficient way to work on your abdominals. Do trampoline exercises for the lower abs with help from one of New York’s hottest fitness experts in this free video clip.
Running is a high-intensity sport that requires your whole body be in top physical condition. Although running itself can help you get in good shape, it's important to add strength and toning exercises like situps to help you maintain proper form, get the most out of your run time and improve your overall health.
Crunches and situps are similar, but not identical, exercises that target your abdominal muscles. Standard crunches and situps are performed on the floor. Doing them on a decline bench, with your head lower than your feet, forces you to work against gravity, making both exercises more intense.
If you're having a hard time dragging yourself to the gym or forcing yourself to go for the run you swore you'd do after work, you might need a workout buddy to pump up your workouts. A good workout buddy can help make exercise fun, more effective and social. There are many benefits to a training partner and a few things you should consider when searching for one. Remember to consult with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.
Ab exercises for triathletes are a great way to maintain stability and coordination. Use ab exercises for triathletes with help from a fitness and active lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
The mountain climber is an exercise done from a prone plank position. It builds muscular strength and challenges the cardiovascular system. It requires contributions from major muscle groups throughout the body, including the abdominals. You don’t need any equipment when doing mountain climbers, which means they can be easily fit into most workout regimens.
As you try on bikinis for the upcoming season, you realize that your stomach is far from beach-worthy. Sound familiar? Before you throw in the towel on the beach idea, act now to get that belly into shape. With a consistent plan of action, you can get your stomach to look toned just in time for bikini season. However, keep in a mind that a toned stomach takes at least a little action every day.
Working out your abdominal muscles can be done in multiple ways. One such way is by challenging your muscles by keeping your feet and legs off of the ground. When in this position not only are you working out your upper abs but you are also giving your lower abs a good workout. This style of ab crunch can be combined with other lower body workout as well to ensure variety in your exercise routines.
Getting strong, fitter and leaner is all well and good, but if you're an athlete you also need to work on increasing your speed. Just sprinting during games or going on long steady jogs won't cut it -- you need speed-specific exercises in your training plan. Power equals your strength multiplied by your speed, according to coach Kelly Baggett of Higher-Faster-Sports.com, so if your sport involves powerful movements such as running, jumping or leaping, more speed can increase your overall performance.
Endorphins are hormones produced by your body when you're under stress, feel pain and when you exercise continuously for 30 minutes of more. Endorphins are released by your pituitary gland in your brain. These hormones typically have a calming effect and can produce feelings of happiness and well-being. You may have heard the expression “runner's high," which is a feeling of euphoria produced by the release of endorphins during strenuous exercise.
The Roman situp involves performing the situp movement while lying on your back on either a flat bench or a glute ham developer. It requires you to lift up your own body weight, but you can make it more difficult by holding a weighted plate or medicine ball at your chest. There are concerns with the Roman situp because of the force placed on your spine. If Roman situps are done with proper form, those without back issues can use the exercise to safely develop the abdominals and hip flexors simultaneously.
For an exercise to be considered the best, it needs to have stood the test of time, delivered great results for the majority of people who have used it, and been championed by well-respected strength and conditioning coaches. It needs to be relatively safe, not overly complicated to learn and, above all, be the right tool for the job. Two world-renowned and strength training experts, Mark Rippetoe and Jim Wendler, agree that there are five must-do exercises that virtually everyone looking to gain strength and power should perform.
Four main groups of muscles have insertion points that are located near your armpit region. These groups are the shoulder flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors. These terms translate to forward, backward, outer and inner movements of your arms. You can work all of the muscles that perform each specific movement in a simultaneous fashion using resistance-training exercises.
Exercising is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that adults should engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise. In addition to this, adults should participate in muscle-strengthening exercises two or three times per week. The function of exercises varies according to muscles worked. Likewise, the benefits of exercising, although positive, vary according to type and length of exercise and level of intensity during the exercise.
The abdominal crunch is one of the most basic ab workouts out there, yet it’s also one of the most effective at targeting your abdominal muscles. The reason it’s so effective is the stretching and contracting action it requires of the abdominals, particularly on the rectus abdominis. The key to ensuring that your crunch workout is effective is to make sure your technique is pristine.
When it’s time to exercise your abdominal muscles, your first thought may be to stuff your feet under the couch and start cranking out situps. But you don’t have to get on the floor to work your abs. Performing abdominal exercises from different positions, and using different tools, can keep your workouts fresh and interesting. Some ab exercises also offer more intensity and greater effectiveness than standard situps, while others bring additional muscles into play for a better all-around workout.
The iPhone didn't just help Apple tap into a new technology market. It also helped cell phone and smartphone users tap into a new method of mobile communication. The release of the iPhone in 2007 introduced a touch-screen and multitouch technology that has been replicated throughout the mobile industry. The iPhone is one of the best selling smartphones in the country, but it didn't have the smoothest sailing following its official release.
Hitting every important muscle group in the body is difficult and time-consuming to track. Many weightlifters gradually drop the exercises they don’t like from their routines in favor of those that provide the most visible benefits for their effort. Often-neglected muscle groups in the biceps, triceps, calves and abdomen can form the core of an effective workout if you select the right exercises for each.
Sit-ups are a strength conditioning exercise that use your body's own weight as resistance to work your core and abdominal muscles. Strengthening your core is important to provide balance and stability throughout your day-to-day activities and workouts. Having toned abdominal and lower back muscles also supports good posture and helps prevent injury and back pain. Doing sit-ups correctly is a positive addition to any workout routine, but it's important to learn proper form to avoid injury.
Core is the collective term used to describe your waist, lower back and abdominal muscles, both superficial and deep. These muscles control and support your spine. A strong core can help maintain good posture and may reduce your chances of suffering from a lower-back injury. If your core muscles are weak, increase the intensity and duration of your workouts gradually to avoid injury.
A tuck sit pullup is less difficult than another pullup exercise called an L-sit pullup, but both are variations on the traditional pullup. During an L-sit pullup, you hang from a pullup bar while holding both of your legs straight out in front of you and then keeping that position as you do pullups. As this exercise is extremely advanced and requires exceptionally strong hip flexors, even many experienced exercisers are not able to do them. During a tuck sit pullup, you still hold a flexed leg position, but your knees are bent at 90 degrees as if you are…
If you've been training your abs with one exercise after another but are not seeing desired results, it is possible you are not resting long enough between sets. The rectus abdominis, like any other muscle, needs time to recuperate. Additionally, doing one set after another without rest can easily lead to sloppy technique as your body tires and you begin to "cheat."
Whether you're about to bench press 350 pounds or do a single pushup, contracting your abdominals is an important first step for any exercise that works your core. Contracting your abs locks your lower core muscle groups into place, keeping your lower spine aligned and strengthening your posture. This allows you to lift, bend, leap or squat without rounding your back. By learning how to contract your abs, you can maintain proper form while exercising.
Yoga balls, also known as stability balls, balance balls, fitness balls and Swiss balls, engage multiple muscles simultaneously as your body tries to balance itself on the wobbly surface. This is especially helpful for the abs and core; even when you exercise other muscle groups using the ball, your abs keep working to stabilize you. Try some yoga ball extension exercises for toning and strengthening legs and midsection to add variety and challenge to your workout.
Athletes need strong abdominal muscles to help improve balance and core strength. For instance, strong abs help football players tackle more effectively, and basketball players are able to control their balance while on defense. Your lower abs work in conjunction with your hip flexor muscles at the top of the thighs. These muscles help improve the speed in which your legs move while running or jumping. While many exercises target the lower abs, the key is choosing the right ones.
The lower stomach is a problem area for most adults. While some yoga poses do target each of the four abdominal muscles, you should know that performing the same set of yoga poses day after day will not remove stubborn belly fat, as the concept of spot reduction is, unfortunately, an exercise urban legend. For best results, eat a healthy diet and add targeted yoga poses to an exercise plan that includes aerobic activity to accelerate weight loss and improve overall fitness.
Cycling long distances or very fast requires a high level of cardiovascular fitness. In addition, strong muscles and good muscular endurance can also improve your cycling performance. Often seen as a lower-body activity, cycling also uses many of your upper-body muscles, especially when you get up and out of the saddle to sprint or climb a steep hill. Supplementing your bike training with strength training will ensure that your muscles as well as your heart and lungs are in tip-top condition for cycling.
Strong, flexible abdominal muscles -- including the rectus abdominis and the internal and external obliques -- are important in almost any sport, but particularly in soccer. Soccer players not only have to run hard, but they must stop and change directions quickly. A strong core also helps when you’re kicking or jumping for the ball. Stretching your abs makes them more flexible, thereby improving their function and reducing your chances of suffering an injury.
Dumbbell exercises are effective for working out many of the muscle groups in the upper body, including the pectorals, the biceps, the triceps, the trapezius and the latissimus dorsi. Although most dumbbell exercises mimic barbell exercises, the dumbbells provide an added dimension that increases difficulty, giving you a harder, more variable workout. There are two basic ways to perform dumbbell exercises: standing or seated. The question of which is better depends on your fitness goals, but for most cases, they’re both effective when you do them together.
“Fitness” magazine introduced the frog reach-through, an exercise that puts your legs in the amphibian's trademark pose. This pulsing workout, a distinct variation on classic crunches, squarely targets the ab muscles. For a truly flat, toned belly, you'll need to practice the frog reach-through as part of a full abdominal regimen alongside regular cardio and strength training and a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Sit-ups are a key core exercise that when done correctly strengthen your abdominal muscles. A strong core is essential, as it stabilizes your spine and supports your body while performing a wide range of everyday activities. Incline sit-ups use the same muscles as a traditional sit-up with added intensity as you work your abdominal muscles harder to pull your body up from a slanted angle that positions your upper body below your lower body.
