I always wanted to get a nice set of ripped abs. I know you do too. Actually everyone does whether they want to admit it or not.
Getting six pack abs is not as hard as you think. Sure, you have seen all the late night infomercials with weird devices promising you a six pack but it really is much simpler than that. If you are looking for nice abs I will show you a free and simple ab machine workout and tips to get great abs even without an ab machine.
Avoid Doing These Types of Workouts
First of all let me tell you what you should avoid doing if you want a great set of abs. Do not do crunches or sit ups. Yes, you heard right. Crunches and sit ups are not giving you better abs, but rather a weak lower back that is coming close to giving you a lower back injury. Unless you are balancing these exercises with lower back and obliques exercises you are heading for disaster.
Exercises that make your abs contract in a forward motion are not the best option since they cause strain. The problem is it is not only crunches but exercises similar to these using ab machines like the Ab Roller, Ab Crunch Machines and others like these.
Focus On Working The Core Area Not Just The Abs
This is the tip that is left out the most in the majority of ab programs and ab machines. In order to get great abs you have to work on every area of the core: the abs, obliques and lower back. Do a workout which targets all of these areas and you will be closer to a great mid section.
Contract The Muscle The Right Way
You also need to contract the abs properly. Don’t rely on gimmicks like belts that send a shock to your abs- they don’t work. Instead use simple exercises that will not only contract the abs but will contract them forcefully and more effectively.
(For More Ab Workouts From Craig Ballantyne Simply Click Here)
In Craig Ballantyne’s video you will see that you do not really need fancy equipment to work the abs. In fact, the only ab equipment he uses is the stability ball. Using a stability ball is easy to use and can help you work on abs, obliques and lower back. Along with the stability ball the other equipment I think is fine for people with no lower back problems is an ab roller but this only targets your abs and does not work the lower back and rest of the core area so well.
A Simple Ab Machine Workout I Like To Do:
As I mentioned earlier you can do a simple workout without having to spend much money. Simply focus on the entire core area with this routine:
• Hanging Leg Raises: Do 3 to 4 sets of 15 repetitions
• Planks: try and hold a plank position on your elbows for up to a minute
• Side Planks: hold this position for up to a minute then repeat on the opposite side
• Stability Ball Crunches: Do 3 to 4 sets of 15 repetitions
Note: if you do not have a pull up bar for hanging leg raises replace these with lying leg raises. Stability ball crunches can be replaced with traditional crunches if you do not have the equipment. Advanced people can use an ab roller in place of crunches.
The workout I have outlined is simple and will work the core area properly. Although you are doing a forward motion like crunches you are balancing it out with exercises that work on the lower back and obliques with planks and side planks. These exercises will strengthen the area and protect you from injury.
You can also follow Craig Ballantyne’s Turbulence Training Ab Workouts as a guide to develop your abs and core region.
How To Make Your Abs Look Great
Although ab exercises are great to strengthen the core it is very important for you to know that great abs will not show unless you have lower body fat. It doesn’t matter how many ab machine workouts you do they will not show your hard work unless you have lower fat. In order to do this it is best to include the following in your routines:
Healthy Eating
Interval Type Cardio
Resistance Training (can be either weights, resistance bands or bodyweight exercises)
Simply follow these tips and paired with the proper ab machine workout or any other ab exercises you will see results sooner than you realized.
