Do you find that even though there are innumerable ab workout programs out there, it is incredibly tough to work out which is the best one to help you reach the illusive 6 pack abs. I mean, given all of this info, some of it conflicting with each other leaving you scratching your head with which is the best way to workout abs.
What you need to do when you start working out your core muscles, is bear in mind that the different routines all work whether it be going for high reps and light weights or heavy weights and low reps, using a stability ball, whatever, the thing is it will work until your body gets used to it, then it needs to be challenged again in a different way to keep the progress going.
Ideally when working out your abs, you want to start with using your own body weight in a stable way and then ramp it up to using weights on an unstable surface. If you do this then you will find results improve because when you are on an unstable base, this forces all of your core muscles to work, especially the really deep ones that do not get called in to play much when you are using a stable basewill cause even the deepest of your core muscles, which generally do not get called in to play much, to work.
If you are uncertain of what I mean by stable base floor work I am on about doing exercises such as sit ups and crunches etc… on the floor.
Weighted movements are a definate requirement if you want to get that proper 6 pack, after all you can have a flat belly without the abs showing and although you look nice and slim, but that is not the result we are after here. The reason we need weights here is because we will be targeting the actual abdominal muscle itself and the best way to do this is with exercises such as weighted ab crunches on a machine or getting on a stability ball with a dumbbell. Also, when performing the rep, it is important that the exercise involved forces your upper abs to crunch onto your lower abs. The reason for this is to maximize the burn and get the full development of the ab muscle.
You can do workouts for both upper and lower abs, really you should just think about working them both out at the same time whenever you train your abs. The reason I say this is that you cannot totally separate upper and lower, so why not just focus on working them all in the first place. However if you do feel that you want to work out the lower abs on their own then exercises like leg raises will certainly help. Also, just as before, if you want to you can progress leg raises from stable, to weighted to unstable to unstable and weighted
One of the key areas in all of your workout plans and not just ab workouts is how often to train them, after all you may well know the body works best when it is fully recovered from the previous workout. As a rule of thumb train them as often as you can as long as they are recovered. If you are finding you are not making any progress then you need more rest in between training them.
The final word on this is that although you can do these exercises, abs are often hidden under fat, so to get the best results you need to watch your calorie intake and also ensure you have cardio work in your routine as well to help burn off fat.
Also do not forget to consult with your physician before undertaking any exercise regime
