Ab Exercises For Men - The Straight Facts

Facing the Facts

I remember when the day came that I looked down from a standing position and could barely see the toes of my shoes. It was somewhat startling, partly because I knew the old joke about this but never expected to experience it for myself. My belly had grown beyond anything I imagined in my earlier days. Then and there, I knew I had to do something about it. I made it a point to learn as much about ab exercises for men as I could.

The Truth About Abs

The ab (or abdominal) muscles are one of the most important parts of the body when it comes to good posture and overall internal health. A strong abdominal wall holds the rest of our innards in place and helps ensure they function properly. A distended belly sometimes allows our internal organs to stretch out of shape, causing indigestion, heartburn, bowel disorders and all sorts of nasty gastro-intestinal problems.

Men in particular have a predisposition to big bellies. In our younger days, we got used to working hard, playing hard, and eating lots. Once our activity slows down a bit, especially after we take on careers, we rarely think to cut back on our eating. This is where ab exercises for men can be especially useful.

Some Exercise Examples

It isn't always necessary to go to the gym to perform effective ab exercises for men. There are many different kinds of exercises that can be performed at home. The key factor is you need to commit yourself to doing them.

The Bicycle Crunch is one of the better ab exercises for men. Hands behind head, lie on the ground and lift your feet several feet off the ground, bent at the knee. Then go through the motion of pedaling, as though you were riding a bike. On each pedal, bring your knee back far enough that you can touch the opposing elbow. In other words, right knee touches left elbow and so on. Do two or three sets of about twelve reps each. Once or twice a week should do it.

Another really excellent example of ab exercises for men is the Captain's Chair. Using a platform, anchor your feet over the edge, and holding your hands behind your back, use your abdominals to pull yourself into a sitting position. Perform two or three sets of about twelve reps, once or twice a week.

Stay Informed!

There are many more ab exercises for men you can learn about to help get that six pack you've always wanted. In addition, there are resources that provide advice on what to eat and what not to eat. For example, many of the foods that we have been told we should eat actually pack on the belly fat! In order to maintain a solid stomach and to enjoy the health and wellbeing that goes along with it, we need to keep informed.

Ab exercises are not where it all ends. If we go so far as to work out to get a hard stomach, why not show it off? It is very important to be able to lower our body fat ratio in order for that six pack to show. There are a number of techniques for doing this, but choosing what we eat is a major factor, and is something we must stick to.