Comments on: Does anyone have any opinions on exercise equipment primarily used for your abs?

By: lv_consultant

lv_consultant — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:35:10 +0000

Does anyone have any opinions on exercise equipment primarily used for your abs? yes…they are a complete waste of money. fantastic abs are made in the kitchen not from doing countless abdominal exercises daily. the ONLY way to get fantastic abs is to have much lower than mean body stout and that is a direct function of the diet not of abdominal exercises.

also since it sounds like you are neglecting the opposing muscle in the lower back (erecter spinae) which most people do. be prepared to have lower back harms later on in life. muscles work is pairs if you work one you have to work the other just as much to keep them balanced. muscle imbalances are the single greatest cause of injury to both the althelte and non-athlete.

By: Sai2301

Sai2301 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:29:05 +0000

go brisk walking an hour daily and do lots of yoga and pilates..you dont need equipment ..

By: alialoggi

alialoggi — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:49:38 +0000

Ever reflect of using an exercise ball? It is so much more fun to use, it feels more like a challenge than a dull exercise. Oxygen magazine (the newest issue with picture of a girl in a green exercise outfit) has a bunch of exercises that use the ball. I like using it because it doesn’t hurt my back and I have a herniated disk. I wouldn’t bother with the Ab Lounger ect., they are not as effective. If it were me, I’d join a gym, hire a personal trainer who can focus on exercises using the ball. I did and I’m glad I did.

By: Amanda L

Amanda L — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:12:09 +0000

I have not found ab equipment that does anything for me quite like ancient fashioned crunches do. I have tried the ab roller and one other gizmo that I didn’t care for. I would suggest getting a bosu ball. There are various exercises you can do on these that really strengthen your core because it forces you to stabilize your entire body. Usually neck and back pain during abdominal exercise indicates that your core (abs in front, and sides, and your back) are not strong enough or that you may be performing the exercises ill-treat. Maybe you should take some time out from ab exercises to focus on your entire core region. Above and beyond the many things you can do with a bosu, there is also “the plank”. This exercise is a excellent indicator of how strong your core is. Get on your knees, and lean forward on your elbows, then pick your knees up and balance on your toes and elbows with your forearms flat on the ground. Suck your belly in and hold it as long as doable. You should be able to hold this for at least 60 sec.

By: Thorb

Thorb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:38:36 +0000

if you buy equipment to do abs make sure it has resistance. the bowflex is a excellent example (there are other machines in gyms but havent heard of any that you can buy). dont get anything that supposedly “helps you to perform better ab workouts”. if you want hardcore abs you need to add resistance and work towards low reps high intensity/weight.

By: Whitewolfct

Whitewolfct — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:23:06 +0000

Just buy a excellent mat and work on the floor. All the ab-oriented props like the ab lounge merely substitute for the standard crunches, leg raises, planks, situps, et cetera. You can make any ab exercise effective if you do it right — and lacking spending much money.

If any ab exercise hurts your back or neck, you are doing it incorrectly — or, you have some sort of structural or alignment issue that needs addressing (separately from the ab issue).

By: luvcrops

luvcrops — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:30:03 +0000

ab lounger–no excellent!!
Do reverse crunches: legs up in the air straight & left butt off floor.