All you have to do is forget about doing the same old crunches and include new exercises so you can add them to your routines and achieve your goals.
What you need to know
Flat stomach or marked abs: what’s the difference?
It is important to distinguish between these two objectives. Because depending on that, you will have to work the muscles differently. For a flat stomach, you will work on deep muscles like the transverse abdominal muscles. On the other hand, if you are mainly looking for the famous “chocolate bar”, you will have to work the right abdominals and the obliques. Hence the importance of knowing your goals to choose the exercises to perform.
Burn fat to tone your abs
You should know that we all have abs. If you can’t see them, it’s probably because they’re hidden by a (light) layer of abdominal fat. In order for your abs to be visible, you must therefore first get rid of this layer of fat before you can tone them. And for that, it is better to do a minimum of cardio.
The abs are also designed in the kitchen
If you are one of those who needs to lose some fat, before opting for a tummy tuck, it would probably be best to rebalance your diet if necessary. The ideal is to reduce your energy intake so that your body has to draw on its reserves and therefore burn more calories during your training sessions. But if you don’t feel motivated to do this type of diet, there’s no need to force yourself to do it.
On the other hand, you can take simple measures to avoid fat gain: eliminate industrial products, junk food, refined foods and sweets from your diet. Instead, favor dishes that contain protein, few carbohydrates and lots of vegetables and good fats. And for party people, it is important to reduce alcohol consumption.
Top 4 Best Exercises to Get Chocolate Bar Abs
The crunches
To accelerate the appearance of your abs, one of the most practical exercises is the essential crunch. To do this, place your lower back on the floor so you don’t hurt yourself and raise your knees at a right angle. The exercise is relatively simple: lift your torso towards your knees and then come back down, controlling the exercise well. Above all, try not to pull the back of your neck with your hands when going up, as you risk neck pain. If you feel very comfortable with this exercise, do not hesitate to do variations such as crunches which will work the muscle in a different way.
The leg lift
This exercise primarily works your lower abs. Lie on your back with your arms alongside your body or under your buttocks for more stability. You will need to raise your legs so that they are perpendicular to your bust. It’s a movement that requires a little flexibility in the lower limbs, but you can adapt it to your level. If you have a pull-up bar, you can also do this exercise to increase the difficulty. In addition to working your abs, lifting your legs will work your glutes.
The sit-up
Sit-ups are similar to sit-ups. You start in the same position, with your back flat on the mat. However, your legs should be bent, your feet in contact with the floor, and your arms behind your head. The movement consists of lifting your chest to reach your feet. This exercise will allow you to work the muscles of the abdomen, and is therefore perfect for sculpting your abs.
The board
While the plank is primarily an exercise meant to give you a flat stomach, it’s also essential for strengthening your core muscles and helping you achieve a well-shaped stomach. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, these muscles will allow you to adopt a good posture and will help you maintain all your organs. There are three types of board:
- the front board facing the ground
- the side board
- the back board.
Choose the one you prefer!
To have well-defined abs, you have to vary…
It goes without saying that just doing a few random sit-ups won’t get you the abs you want. While some people prefer to simply strengthen their abs, a simple combination of cardio and core strength training will be enough to achieve faster and longer lasting results. You can start your workout with machine or bodyweight exercises that will help get your heart rate up before you work out.
