| A Powerful Centerby Bidz dela Cruz | | | | you might just get a number of serious back |
| | | | pains. So what you should do first is to do |
| The center of the human body is the | | | | crunches first. Crunches develops the upper |
| midsection area composed of the midriff (or | | | | abs with a slight supplementary workout for |
| abdominals) when seen in front and the lower | | | | the middle abs. |
| back when seen at the back. In most cases, | | | | |
| achieving balance, stability and | | | | 3)If you can see that your upper abs is |
| proportionality requires a good play of the | | | | developing already, you can now train your |
| center. And the human body is a good example | | | | mid abs. Yes, you can do sit-ups now. |
| of this. To achieve optimum balance and | | | | |
| stability, the upper body and the lower body | | | | 4)When you see that you have a good |
| should always be proportionate, but most | | | | developing mid abs already, then you can |
| especially, the center of the body should be | | | | start training your lower abs. For starters, |
| powerful enough to support the movements of | | | | this is the hardest part of the abs to train, |
| both upper and lower body. | | | | this requires focus in breathing and |
| | | | endurance of the lower legs. But do not stop |
| In exercising, it is always a basic rule to | | | | training for your upper and middle abs. |
| strengthen your abs and back first before | | | | |
| developing the other body parts. And since | | | | 5)While you are training your abs, you should |
| there is no such thing as "spot training" | | | | also train your lower back. The abs and the |
| where you choose to only workout a particular | | | | back support each other: A good back helps |
| body part isolating it from the others, this | | | | develop good abs, and a good set of abs helps |
| only means that you will still train your | | | | develop a good back. |
| whole body part but giving priority and | | | | |
| emphasis on your midsection. | | | | 6)While doing all these, you can also train |
| | | | for your lateral abs to give you the needed |
| Having a poor midsection may mean straining | | | | strength for your sides and the most admired |
| your back after a long and strenuous workout. | | | | midsection appearance. For men, a great set |
| You would want to avoid that because | | | | of abs is having all the eight packs of |
| having too many backaches in life may cause | | | | abdominal muscles defined. |
| you to have slipped discs, which will lead to | | | | |
| your body's deterioration. So while you are | | | | 7)Remember that you can achieve great abs |
| young and have the time to exercise, train | | | | just by doing crunches and sit-ups. I would |
| your midsection hard. | | | | like to reiterate that "There is no such |
| | | | thing as Spot Training" So do total body |
| The following are some basic guidelines for | | | | workout all the time. Have an exercise |
| starters (meaning those people that are just | | | | program where you get to train all your body |
| starting to exercise now): | | | | parts in at least twice a week. |
| | | | |
| 1)Do not do any abdominal exercises first if | | | | 8)Cardiovascular exercises are the best way |
| you have a big belly. Trim your belly first. | | | | to trim your abs. |
| If you do abdominal exercises immediately | | | | |
| with a fat tummy, it will get hard and | | | | 9)Exercising is just the first half of the |
| stiffened, thus you will have a hard time | | | | story, diet eating is the other half. |
| trimming your belt size. | | | | Exercise with no diet will give you minimal |
| | | | results. So optimize your exercise and diet |
| 2)If you have a relatively trimmed belly, do | | | | programs and flaunt those midsection in no |
| not attempt to do sit-ups immediately, you | | | | time! |
| might not have a powerful midsection yet, and | | | | |