Best Exercise For Abs and Effective Core Exercises – mercola.com

If you ask just about anyone what their main fitness goals are, flat, toned and defined abdominals is usually at the top of their list. However, from a fitness standpoint, the aspiration for the “perfect set of abs” should be balanced with the type of training that will best enhance the overall strength of the entire core’s function.

“Rock-Hard Abs” is about Far More than Aesthetics

Your first inclination may be to think that doing a lot of sit ups will develop the type of abs you see in fitness magazines. But know this: No matter how many “crunches” you do, you will not be able to decrease the amount of fat on your waistline.

Several factors come into play when trying to decrease fat around your abdominal region. As mentioned in the video above, one simple trick is to simply push yourself away from the table rather than over eat. But here we are going to focus on your core, the muscles that make up your core, and how to best train that region of your body. Having a strong core will allow you to:

maintain good posture

conduct everyday movements of reaching and bending more easily and safely

continue to have strong continence

sustain strong balance and stability

These are all solid reasons to work on and develop your core muscles, and as you can see, it’s about far more than aesthetics. In fact, developing and maintaining a strong and functional core should be of interest to everyone — not just those who are avid gym rats.

When you achieve a strong and balanced core unit, you also have a decreased risk of injury due to falls; and most importantly, many other areas of your body will work better together.

Your lower back, hip flexors, pelvis, knees and even your feet will work harmoniously when your core is balanced and strong. Obviously this would be of great importance for everyone, regardless of your age. For the aging population a strong core will help you perform daily activities with greater ease and grace, and it will help with continence.

A strong, balanced core is also integral for students in order to have good posture while carrying books and backpacks, and is important for office workers sitting at the computer all day, and even the mother carrying her newborn for several hours a day.

In essence, a strong core is directly related to having a pain free lower back. And it is a well-known fact that lower back pain can affect your overall health and well-being. Lower back pain can cause additional pain, from headaches all the way down to foot pain. So it is easy to see the importance of a strong, well balanced and well trained core.

What Makes Up Your Core?