Get Fit Abs - A Waste Of Time?

The pursuit of the ever elusive “6-pack” may be more important to some gym goers than any other body part, period.  Let’s face it; rarely do we see Ads featuring sculpted forearms and a nice set of lats. There are 3 critical facts that must be understood before embarking on hours of crunches, leg lifts, planks, and other spine contorting abdominal movements.

1. Use Free Weights Not Machines:  Only plastic surgeons can spot reduce:  Yes it’s true, for enough money you too can have the fat around your mid-section sucked away!  Until then, use free weights instead of machines to sculpt your stomach.  Free weights require the use of your “core” musculature, this will help develop the abdominal muscles.
   
   
2. Eat Right:  You can have the best abs on the planet, but if they’re nestled under a blanket of fat it sure won’t appear that way.  Proper nutrition attributes to 80% of the fat loss around your stomach. 
   
   
3. Get Your Heart Racing:  Cardio is the only form of exercise that uses fat for energy.  Strength training will not do it, nor will crunches.  A round of cardiovascular exercise after your strength training workout will use a greater percentage of your total calories burned from fat.
   

To crunch or not to crunch? The abdominals are a muscle group too. In order for them to get bigger and stronger they need to be worked. But remember, working your abs will NOT decrease the fat on your stomach. Working your abs on a regular basis will help strengthen and sculpt the muscle but you must lean out in order to see your nicely defined and sculpted abs. While abdominal exercises won't get rid of belly fat, a strong core is important for keeping your body healthy and protecting your spine.

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