Step Six: Ab Secrets You Need to Know

Ab Secrets of the Pros

Have you ever wondered how celebrities keep those six pack abs and always look great? Many celebrities stay fit and in shape using the same simple workout methods that you can find in any health and fitness magazine or on a DVD. Using these simple workout routines, you will not only have the ab secrets of the stars, but also a better overall body and physical appearance.

The crunch is one of the most well known ab sculpting workouts that lead to a well defined abdominal region. Crunches are key in the 6 pack ab secrets of the stars, and if done correctly, improve the appearance of your abs significantly. This workout puts less stress on your lumbar, cervical vertebra and shoulders than the typical sit-up, which has been proven to not be a very effective ab workout. Lay on the floor flat, and let your spine rest on the floor. You may place your hands gently behind you head, or cross then on your chest.

If you decide to place your hands behind you head, remember that this makes you more inclined to put stress on your neck. Pull the upper portion of your trunk up with your abdominal muscles and exhale when you have reached a 45 degree angle. By repeating this, your abdominal muscles will get increasingly stronger making this one of the greatest ab secrets of all.

The criss-cross crunch is a more difficult abdominal workout, but it is one of the best ab secrets of all. This works all of your abdominal muscles instead of just a select few. Essentially, you are crunching your sides; by supporting you weight with you other abdominal muscles all at the same time. To do this, lay flat on the floor, and pull your legs and torso up at about 30-40 degree angles (or whatever is most comfortable). Place your hands gently behind your head without applying pressure. Take you right elbow and gently touch your left knee cap, while extending you other leg and repeat with opposite elbow and knee. This is difficult exercise, but as your abdominal muscles strengthen, this exercise will become a little easier, but still very effective. This is one of the many ab secrets personal trainers use on their celebrity clients to keep them fit and tight.

Many may wonder, how would lunges help develop my abdominal muscles? Lunges do this by working all part of your legs, buttocks, back and abs all at the same time. This occurs because gravity is pulling you forward and backward all at the same time. In order to stay in the right position, your abdominal muscles must pull you forward and your back muscles must pull you backwards to create and equilibrium. To do this, stand straight with a desired weight amount in each hand (I recommend 5-10 lbs to start). Put one leg forward and allow your knee to drop almost near the ground while keeping your abs tight, and repeat with opposite legs each time. This is not only a celebrity ab secret, but a whole body workout all in one.