How you get good at abdominal exercises!
Many people hate doing sit-ups. They feel like they don’t really get any better at it. And if you don’t see any results, that can be quite discouraging. Do you also have trouble pushing yourself to get started with abdominal exercises? Then there is a good chance that you are not performing them correctly, not frequently enough, or both. Because trust us, when done properly, sit-ups are very, very effective. Not only to get a nice tight stomach, but also to improve your posture and relieve neck, shoulder and back complaints. Everything becomes easier with a strong core! Below you can read how you can become really good at abs exercises.
Don’t limit it to a single sit-up variation
Your core consists of the muscles in your lower back plus several abs. For example, you have the rectus abdominis muscle (your straight abs), the transversus abdominis muscle (the deepest abs, the outer obliques, and the inner obliques. In most abs exercises you only train the upper, middle or lower straight abs, or mainly the obliques, so if you want a strong core, it’s important to do multiple sit-up variations, for example, if you always do one or two variations, your upper straight abs may be very strong while your lower abs stay underdeveloped You have to tackle them all!
Get the right shape
You can do a hundred sit-ups a day, but if you have the wrong technique it will take a lot of time for you to make progress. In addition, poor form can lead to injuries. So get the basics right first. Okay, but how do you perform a correct sit-up? Well, that depends on what variation you want to do. A personal trainer or coach at your local gym can show you how to do each variation with proper form. If that’s not an option for you, check out some YouTube videos like this one on the proper way to perform crunches.
Do them slowly and in a controlled manner
If you’re a regular at the gym, you’re no doubt familiar with the type who does his crunches like he’s catching a train. Please don’t take an example from them; this is NOT the most effective way to do sit-ups! Instead, try to make each move as slow and controlled as possible, while still paying attention to your form. If your mind tends to wander, you may need a little more focus. It also helps to pay attention to your breathing. Try to hold the last position of each sit-up for a second before returning to the starting position.
Give your body the chance to recover
While it’s important to have consistency in your training, recovery days are just as important if you want to get good at abs. While you’re training your core, you’re actually causing micro-tears in your muscles. Each time those micro-tears repair, your abs get a little stronger. That does mean you have to give them time to recover; at least one rest day per week. Also make sure you get enough sleep. And don’t forget that a healthy diet with enough protein is important. The expression “Abs are made in the kitchen” does not exist for nothing!
Love,
Team FITSHE
