Here is the skinny on effective abdominal exercises for men. If you are not skinny, meaning have a low percentage of fat on your body, you will not get those great washboard abs. It doesn't matter how many crunches you do each day, you will not get the definition that those guys who clock in at five or six percent do. The secret to the six pack abs is in the lack of six packs in your fridge. Abdominal exercises are useful for building the abdominal muscles; that's where it ends. Abs exercises are useful for improving core performance with certain sports, like boxing to take punches, or blocking and tackling but it has little effect on shrinking fat in that area of the body (belly fat), that most over 40 males want or on the body's distribution of body fat. For that matter because you also have to be concerned about your genetic distribution of body fat, you must know that there are still no getting around the diet issue.

Here is a checklist of exercises to go along with your diet program. You can make fat loss less painful with a steady increase in the intensity of your workouts and consistent daily application. Here are my recommended choices for your abdominal exercise workouts for the rectus abdominus and external obliques.

 

• Bicycle crunch

 

 

• Captain's chair (machine workout)

 

 

• Exercise ball (equipment)

 

 

• Torso track (machine workout)

 

 

• Long arm crunch

 

 

• Reverse crunch

 

 

• Ab wheel (equipment)

 

 

• Traditional crunch

 

Perform each exercise with correct form and avoid bouncing. Be precise in our follow though and watch for arching in your back. The abdominal muscles you'll want to reach must be backed up by its neighbors. The anterior abdominal wall is made up of four muscles the rectus abdominus muscle, the internal and external obliques, and the transversus abdominus. There really is no such thing as the lower abs and upper abs; it's all one long sheet of muscle protecting the core of your torso.

What you're doing when you work these muscles is simply strengthening and sculpting them for the moment when the fat level and water level in your skin is at its lowest. Take your pictures and be proud of your body. Then go out and eat some healthy food. Maintaining a very low fat level is great for competition but not always practical for the every day life of a 40 + non bodybuilding male.

The goal is to constantly balance the intake of calorie with your output of energy. The most effective abdominal exercises for men will not get you ripped if you do not watch what you put into your mouth.

Getting back into shape is not easy for men over 40 but you can do it. The health benefits alone are worth the effort. Your love life as well as your self esteem will dramatically improve when you are at your personal best.

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Written By Dennis Francis

You can lose the fat and gain your strength and endurance if you follow these simple rules. For more information on trimming the fat and feeling great, go to my website. Go to => http://www.fatburningworkoutafter40.com/

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