Crunch Time.... for Athletic Abs

Whether you want do abdominals for athletic performance,  a rippled mid section, general health, therapy or rehabilitation... ignore the hyped formulae you see on TV or the Internet. Do ab exercise suited to you. Advocating high reps of any one exercise is often bad advice. "One crunch doesn't fit all " says Dr. Michele Olson of Auburn University exercise science. Here's our advice:

• The best way to develop a '6pack' abdominal muscles is to lose weight through a general conditioning program.
• Be smart with your calorie intake, eat a balanced diet, and don't drink too much alcohol. "Athletic Abs are made in the kitchen".
• Spend less time doing ab exercises.
• Consider Multiplainer movements in all three planes: Saggital, Frontal, Tranverse Planes.
• Go for variety of exercises that employ compound muscle exercises. Like Squats!
• Perform 15- 20 reps of each. Abs are mostly endurance muscles. Don't train to increase size.
• Avoid movements that compress the lower back such as back-lying leg raises, the yoga boat, and the advanced Pilates teaser.

 

To find how to effectively train your core in all 3 movement planes please email cameron.a.hunt@gmail.com . He is able to take bookings at the Bentall Centre Athletic Club in Vancouver, or Body Storm in Squamish, BC.

thanks Jason Sumner for the ab image.

CH