Hey guys,
I'm having a little bit of trouble with my ab workouts (I use the fitness videos and they help a lot). It seems I am using too much of my neck sometimes and it distracts me from my abs. Any suggestions?
Hey guys,
I'm having a little bit of trouble with my ab workouts (I use the fitness videos and they help a lot). It seems I am using too much of my neck sometimes and it distracts me from my abs. Any suggestions?
Well, it depends on what kind of ab work you're doing...for crunches and similar work (where you left you head and shoulders and upper back) try to picture holding a large grapefruit between your chin and your chest...so many people do crunches with their chins ON their chest,w hich causes neck strain...keeping that grapefruit-size distance reduces neck strain...also, think about lifting your upper body UP, not toward your knees, and keep your eyes ont he ceiling, instead of on your legs or your abs like most people do...that subconsciously causes yout o lower your head, increasing strain.
^ Great advice! Yes, most people CURL up on the crunch. It should be more like lifting. Even on the lower ab workout, the feet should reach to the ceiling.




You do sit-ups on a stability ball, V-up...keeping legs straight out while siiting up and slightly leaded back, slowly lift both legs off the floor until you form a V shape then slowly lower legs back to starting postion. Also you can lay flat on your back and do the legs raises as well. Great to get the lower abs.
trying kickboxing also...that is great for your core.





Try "The Wheel", it's the bomb for abs, and doesn't involve the neck at all. I never do situps anymore, and don't need to, thanks to this handy little toy.
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
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It helps me if I focus on pressing my head back into my hands as I lift my chest up. I also don't lace my fingers, just use them to support my head as I lift up.
Try this excercise, not bad on your neck or anything. Do this on carpet or a blanket...Get into the push-up position, but instead of being on your hand, get down onto your fore-arms and just hold your abs tight like that. You don't have to move just hold it making sure your back is flat, do it for one minute and you'll feel the burn!
i got this one from a friend who is a personal trainer...lie flat on your back and lift your legs using only your abs about 6" from the floor - hold for 15 - lift another 6" - hold for 15 - lift another 6" - hold for fifteen. take 30 second break. do it again and increase the hold time by 15 more seconds. do it once more and increase time to 45...eventually you will be able to hold it for up to and longer than one minute. i also like to try and concentrate on my core when i'm just walking around. if you try to make all your movements start from there you will get a great ab workout without even trying.
use the fitness ball. i'm an airforce services squadron veteran, and when we got people with neck and back injuries we use the ball. you will spend less than five minutes on it and it will feel like you went through an exercise video TWICE. i can barely get past thirty crunches on the thing!...and i have a 6-pack like a dude!
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