{"id":9484,"date":"2011-02-25T12:11:49","date_gmt":"2011-02-25T18:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.withamymac.com\/news\/?p=9484"},"modified":"2011-06-22T14:30:59","modified_gmt":"2011-06-22T20:30:59","slug":"biggest-ab-exercise-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withamymac.com\/news\/2011\/02\/25\/biggest-ab-exercise-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Biggest Ab Exercise Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I have been getting asked A LOT about abs lately (must be because swimsuit season is coming up).\u00a0 I have written several working out tips for getting better abs, but instead of reposting one of those articles I figured I would highlight a few points from SparkPeople.com and a few others.<\/p>\n

from SparkPeople.com – Top 10 Ab Training Mistakes<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

#4 Not Focusing on Form<\/strong>
\nIf you’re doing an abdominal exercise and you’re not really feeling it, I’m going to tell you a cold, hard truth: It’s probably not because you’re super strong and fit. More likely, you’re not doing it properly. The key to really working your abs is to focus on your form, by deeply engaging your abs throughout each movement. This is commonly described as “pulling your navel towards your spine,” or “scooping” the abs inward and it will help you engage more muscle fibers (especially the transverse abs), making each repetition more effective. And did you know: Mentally focusing on the muscles you’re trying to engage during any exercise (abs or otherwise) actually does make a difference in how well you execute the move? Try it next time and you’ll notice a difference!<\/p>\n

#7 Only Working the Abs from One Angle<\/strong>
\nI touched on this above. Most people only work their abs by doing flexion (crunching movements), but a solid abs training program should include multiple angles and ranges of motion. Here are some examples to help you understand the many ways to move your core. (This 15-minute routine<\/a> features all of these movements in one workout!):<\/p>\n