I also use medicine balls to challenge those who are more advanced.”Įddy is also an advocate of planks and medicine ball work, although he’s adamant that the best way to achieve results is to focus on full-body workouts, rather than singling out your abdominals. “With my clients I like to do bodyweight exercises such as planks or bodyweight twists. Once you get the knack of this, it not only helps to strengthen your abs but encourages isolation of the muscles you're working as you hold your body still. “So even when I'm squatting or performing bicep curls, I will use my core to stabilise my body. My core strength has been developed through the engagement of my core muscles through correctly executed training,” she added. “Many people assume that I do sit-ups as I have strong abs. Listen to your body and if in doubt, stop immediately! WHAT ABS EXERCISES SHOULD I BE DOING INSTEAD?Ĭarly teaches her clients numerous techniques to hone their abs, and there’s not a sit-up in sight! ![]() Sometimes, you won’t feel the full extent of it until the next day, by which point it’s far too late. Eddy also noted that on many occasions you won’t even notice that you’re doing damage to your body. You increase the weights, thus risking possible injury to 'feel' the contraction,” he explained.ĭon’t overload yourself. “If you think of the kinetics, before your stomach feels what is being done your lower back is immediately put under strain. He’s wary of ‘free cushion sit-ups’, too. He told us that ‘gym cradles’ should also be used sparingly, as they can cause people to overstretch their necks. ANY OTHER ABS EXERCISES THAT ARE BEST AVOIDED?ĭid you read the incredible story of Master Trainer Eddy Diget on our Blog? It’s highly recommended! As a two-time British natural body building champion, 71-year-old Eddy is your go-to guy for abs workout guidance. If you suddenly start putting a load of pressure on these areas when you hit the gym after work, you’re in danger of injuring yourself. As Carly alluded to, more of us have sedentary jobs and because we’re sat at a desk all day, our lower back muscles, shoulders and neck muscles tend to be under-utilised. Make sure you’re mixing things up and not putting undue stress on your lower back. I'd also argue that sit-ups don't help us when using the trunk of our body functionally during other everyday tasks such as lifting, cleaning etc.” It can also reinforce any existing issues with poor posture (a huge problem in today's car and desk-bound society). “The repeated and unnatural bending of the spine can damage your spinal discs over time. “If sit-ups are done incorrectly they can overload the spine in a dangerous way,” she told us. ![]() She warns that relying too heavily on sit-ups can put you at greater risk of injury. ![]() IS IT TIME TO DITCH SIT-UPS FROM MY ABS WORKOUT?Īs a Bikini Fitness competitor, it’s safe to say that Carly Tierney knows more than most about effective abs workouts. We spoke to two of our personal trainers about the most common mistakes that gym-goers make in their quest for outstanding abdominals. “How many sit-ups do I need to do to get a six pack?” It’s a question that DW’s personal trainers have to field regularly, much to their collective frustration.Įverybody wants to find the perfect abs workout, but those who cling on to the misguided belief that doing 100 sit-ups or crunches every day will earn them a stomach that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson would be envious of are ultimately going to be left disappointed.
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