To get truly awesome abs, you have to attack your abdominal wall from all angles with a vengeance. Understanding the structure and function of muscles involved in a well-defined torso helps you identify exercises that are highly effective. One of...
The cable crunch is an abdominal training exercise that is performed using weighted resistance from the lat machine or cable machine. Bodybuilding.com notes that the cable crunch is an isolation exercise, meaning it isolates the abdominals. The...
Any exercise that works the abdominals will tilt the rib cage towards the pelvis and vice versa, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding." The crunch is the purest form of this exercise. But doing...
Though you can exercise the stomach just about anywhere, there are some exercises you can do in the gym to specifically target your belly. The major muscles in the stomach area include the rectus abdominis, which covers the upper and middle area,...
Strengthening your abdominal muscles can help prevent and relieve lower back pain, correct pelvis alignment and improve performance for many physical activities. When performed correctly, machine exercises can help you add resistance to your...
According to Dr. Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico, your abdominal or six-pack muscles are known as the "rectus abdominis." There are no separations for individual abs; these divisions are formed by...
The size of your waist is mostly determined by the amount of body fat you carry and the strength of your abdominal muscles. Even with low body fat, if you don't have good core strength, the weight of your internal organs can cause your stomach to...
The Impex MP 3500 is a multi-station home gym. You have to assemble this product after purchase. The MP 3500 features one weight stack that attaches to several exercise stations via a complex pulley system. You can do a full-body strength routine...
Anyone taught to do a sit-up in middle school was probably bored with crunches by college. Watching paint dry or water boil are a couple of mind-numbing things that can be more exciting than doing an ab routine that only consists of crunches and...
Bodybuilders have amazing statuesque physiques with muscle on top of muscle. One of the signatures of a bodybuilder's body is the muscles on the sides of the rib cage. Often referred to as the "finger muscles," the actual names of these muscles...
In anatomical terminology, the stomach has a large muscle called the rectus abdominis and muscles on the sides of the stomach known as the obliques. When working your stomach at the gym, you can target the upper and lower abs and the obliques with...
Strengthening your upper abs at home involves exercises with spinal flexion, which is when you decrease the distance between the front of your ribs and pelvis. But just because you work out at home doesn't mean you cannot use some equipment. Large...
Stability ball, Swiss ball, exercise ball, physio ball...whatever you call this popular core training tool, the stability ball can be a great addition to your exercise routine. Whether training your obliques or any other muscle of your core, the...
Fat can build up all over your body, but for some people, it accumulates in the midsection the most. Even with dieting and exercise, you might still be left with excess fat around your belly. This fat can be difficult to lose and is usually the...
Any abdominal exercise, such as a crunch or a sit-up, is a resistance training exercise because the muscles are working against gravity to lift the weight of your body. During training, resistance bands can be used to add resistance for the...
While working your abdominal muscles won't necessarily burn belly fat, according to the Mayo Clinic, ab exercises will strengthen and tone the muscles to make your waist appear tighter. Incorporate weight to your ab routine by exercising with the...
Nautilus is a fitness company that produces several types of exercise equipment, including home gyms. Of the many home gyms the company has created, the Nautilus Freedom Trainer is among the most unique. It offers two free motion cable arms that...
The Weider Platinum is an exercise machine that allows you to perform workouts to increase muscle mass along with strength. The machine uses a resistance cable pulley system that includes an upper and a lower cable pulley. The Weider Platinum also...
Eventually, you'll attain the waist size you want through your exercise routine. Once you've done this and you're abs are beginning to show, you may need to switch your focus to develop tone and definition in your abdominal muscle. While your core...
If you want to flatten your stomach, crunches are only part of the solution. You also must reduce your caloric intake, eat healthy foods and perform cardiovascular exercise to promote weight loss. The crunches can put the final touches on your...
Exercise machines are much maligned for not offering as good a workout as free weights. According to MayoClinic.com, machines are just as effective at building strength as free weights and technique is the most important thing to consider. The...
In today's physique conscious world, the perfect set of six-pack abs seems to be the Holy Grail. And while a good diet and cardiovascular exercise are vital components to achieving these results, a few laps around the neighborhood and a breakfast...
Cable exercises combine the safety of exercise machines with the effectiveness of free weights. The handles can move freely in any direction, but as the weights themselves are housed inside a machine and fixed on guide rods; there is no risk of...
Crunches are the classic way of shaping and defining your torso for a visible six pack. Alas, traditional crunches can get boring over time. They also don't often give you the best workout for your time. Instead of doing classic crunches, try one...
Stomach fat can be unsightly and in many women can increase with age even when not much weight is gained. According to MayoClinic.com, abdominal fat can significantly raise your chances of cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer and...
To build muscle, you need to follow the overload principle, which means you progressively load the muscles with a resistance that they are not adapted to. This can be done with the use of body weight, free weights or workout machines. If you plan...
Your abdominal muscles or abs are located at the front of your torso and run from your pelvis to your lower ribs and sternum. They are responsible for flexing your spine forward and, along with your obliques, bending your spine to the side. A...
The cable crossover, also known as the pec fly, is performed by using a cable tower machine. Incorporate the crossover into your upper body workout to strengthen and tone the pectoral muscles of your chest.
Women should strive for total body muscle workouts, while implementing exercises directly related to toning and strengthening their core. Muscle is more compact and defined than fat, reducing the appearance of abdominal size. Using gym equipment...
