Abs Exercise for Women: What Exactly is the Difference, Anyway?
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The Most Common Type of Abs Exercise for Women
This may sound like pathetic flattery, but quite often the type of abs exercises I see women doing at my gym are more 'on the road' than what I see from men. Men have certain pre-occupations at the gym (besides the women, I mean), and they usually have to do with force, brute strength, and volume of repetitions. To get firm six pack abs, however, also requires some key knowledge, planning and a different kind of discipline.
On the other hand, the most common abs exercise for women seems to be those divorced from heavy weight and a maximum resistance it provides. The best abs exercises are somewhere in between, where there are a plethora of full-body exercises, some level of resistance, and a certain cardio aspect to boot.
BTW, I do have a clue what I'm talking about; I work closely with a drill-sergeant of a personal trainer, and have also benefited from a wealth of info at a site called 6PackAbsTruth.com. You can't have my personal trainer, but I'm always happy to share useful links.
On the other hand, the most common abs exercise for women seems to be those divorced from heavy weight and a maximum resistance it provides. The best abs exercises are somewhere in between, where there are a plethora of full-body exercises, some level of resistance, and a certain cardio aspect to boot.
BTW, I do have a clue what I'm talking about; I work closely with a drill-sergeant of a personal trainer, and have also benefited from a wealth of info at a site called 6PackAbsTruth.com. You can't have my personal trainer, but I'm always happy to share useful links.
The Most Effective Abs Exercise for Women
It is a very, very rare sight at my gym to see women engaged in a certain type of full-body, multi-joint exercise, such as Deadlifts, Barbell Squats and Bench Presses. These are very useful exercises in helping get six pack abs, but not essential. I DO see many women engaging in creative variations of these standard exercises, and that's all that is necessary. The ironic fact is that multi-joint exercises are significantly better than abs exercises if firm abs is what you seek.
So, why are multi-joint exercises so important? In the words of one wise man:
"By focusing the majority of your time in the gym on bigger compound movements...and upper body multi-joint presses and pulls, your body is forced to work harder and burn more calories during and after the workout." (Mike Geary, 6PackAbsTruth.com)
See, the key to having great abs is much more about weight loss than it is about abs exercises. The more muscles you work, the more firm those muscles will be, and the greater your metabolism will be even while at rest. To this end, there are several great multi-joint exercises I see women perform that allow for weight training without finding themselves amongst all the gym 'meatheads'.
What follows are a couple of the most common and effective abs exercises for women.
So, why are multi-joint exercises so important? In the words of one wise man:
"By focusing the majority of your time in the gym on bigger compound movements...and upper body multi-joint presses and pulls, your body is forced to work harder and burn more calories during and after the workout." (Mike Geary, 6PackAbsTruth.com)
See, the key to having great abs is much more about weight loss than it is about abs exercises. The more muscles you work, the more firm those muscles will be, and the greater your metabolism will be even while at rest. To this end, there are several great multi-joint exercises I see women perform that allow for weight training without finding themselves amongst all the gym 'meatheads'.
What follows are a couple of the most common and effective abs exercises for women.
Effective Abs Exercise for Women #1 - The Dumbbell Lunge
This is one of my very favorite multi-joint exercises, and I have seen a TON of women doing it too. If you find something close by resembling dumbbells, you can even do it at home. Its real value is that it is an exercise that requires balance, and whenever you are dealing with balance then the abs are working hard too.
This exercise is simple, and you don't need much weight (10-15 lbs to start). Make sure that your thigh is parallel to the ground and your stride is long enough so that your knee does not extend past your toes. You can work one side at a time or alternate sides, as in the video demonstration:
This exercise is simple, and you don't need much weight (10-15 lbs to start). Make sure that your thigh is parallel to the ground and your stride is long enough so that your knee does not extend past your toes. You can work one side at a time or alternate sides, as in the video demonstration:
Effective Abs Exercise for Women #2 - The Dumbbell Step-Up
Here's another good exercise for women, and - like the lunge - one you can perform with a little improvisation at home; just be aware that whatever you're stepping up onto should be about 15 inches off the ground.
Here's a narrated video demonstration to give you a clear idea of this one:
Here's a narrated video demonstration to give you a clear idea of this one:
Time to Get Started on Those Abs Exercises!
The two above exercises will give you a great start on building up some muscle to boost the metabolism, as well as getting the abs involved in doing some work. If you want to also get some info about specific abs exercises, I would encourage you to read this page about exercises to tone your stomach.
Oh, and check out 6PackAbsTruth.com...if you're really serious about your abs goals, there's a goldmine of information there.
Hope this has helped!
Oh, and check out 6PackAbsTruth.com...if you're really serious about your abs goals, there's a goldmine of information there.
Hope this has helped!
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by SixPackAbsMan
SixPackAbsMan
I used to have many obsessions, now I just have one: to get rid of the last remnants of my 'love handles' (c'mon, there are other things to hold onto)... more »
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