| As with all muscle groups, the abs can "get used to" | | | | Developing your abdominal muscles and getting rid of |
| the stress placed on them by a set exercise routine. | | | | fat are two distinctly different objectives. Basically, to |
| After a few months you may wish to incorporate | | | | remove unwanted fat one must perform aerobic |
| some of the following exercises into you ab routine. | | | | exercise and adjust one's diet so more calories are |
| Extra Exercises: Cable Crunches | | | | burned up than consumed. The exercises that you do |
| Yes, another "crunch" movement! The reason there | | | | requires the muscles to work. The body obtains that |
| are so many crunch exercises in ab work, is simply | | | | energy from the food that you eat and your fat |
| because they work. Like the ab crunch, the cable | | | | stores. Therefore decreasing food intake whilst |
| crunch is a strict contraction movement of the | | | | increasing energy output leads to fat loss. |
| abdominal muscles. | | | | Q+A |
| The additional ability to adjust resistance with the | | | | Q - I already do some of these exercises what's so |
| weight stack makes this a unique and very effective | | | | different about Absolute Definition? |
| movement. | | | | A - "Doing some" and doing a scientifically designed |
| At advanced ab training levels, bodyweight alone may | | | | program is not the same thing. |
| not provide you with enough resistance to build up | | | | Absolute Definition is a series of exercises which, |
| your abdominal muscles. | | | | when performed in the manner explained, give results |
| With the cable crunch, you can load on as much | | | | that doing the odd abs exercise could never attain. |
| weight as necessary to make your abs burn! | | | | Q - I don't have anywhere to do the hanging |
| Start position: Use a high pully or a triceps/cable | | | | exercises, what should I do? |
| crossover using a rope or a machine small v-grip | | | | A - Use a doorway chinning bar, available at most |
| handle. | | | | good sports stores. |
| From the kneeling position, keep your thighs at a 90 | | | | Q - How do I know when I'm ready to go up a Level? |
| angle to the floor and your torso parallel to the floor. | | | | A - Stay at each level as long as possible. You can |
| Grip one end of the handle in each hand, positioning it | | | | only benefit from this, as you will have a foundation on |
| near to your forehead and pull the rope straight down. | | | | which to build future training success. As long as one |
| Use a weight that allows a full contraction for 12-15 | | | | level is giving you visible results. Stick with it. |
| reps. Contract your abs keeping your pelvis and lower | | | | Q - Can I get rid of the love handles on the side of my |
| back stationary, curling your head toward the floor, in | | | | waist by using Absolute Definition? |
| towards your knees. | | | | A - Absolute Definition tones the mid section and the |
| Squeeze at the peak contraction point then slowly | | | | abdominal muscles. Losing the love handles involves |
| unfurl your body allowing the weight, with control to | | | | Losing body fat. See the Aerobics section. |
| take you back to the starting position. | | | | Q - How come you don't have seated twists and side |
| At the top, allow the weight to pull you slightly beyond | | | | bends in your program? |
| horizontal, slightly arch the back and "stretch" your abs. | | | | A - These exercises (where people put a bar on their |
| Now go back and do it again. | | | | shoulders and twist, or "dip" from side to side holding |
| CAUTION | | | | weights) are absolutely not recommended. They will |
| 1. Using too much weight will bring the "psoas muscles" | | | | cause your obliques to grow, causing your waist to |
| into play. These connect the spine to the long bone of | | | | grow wider and they do this very effectively and |
| the thigh. This places undue stress on the spine, and | | | | quickly. |
| can be seen by the sharp arch in the back. | | | | The net result is that your chest will not look as wide |
| This is no good for your abs and is bad for your back. | | | | because you will also have a "wide" waist. |
| Stick to a weight that only allows 12-15 reps. | | | | Absolute Definition is ideally presented in the context of |
| 2. Remember not to pivot at the hips, keep your lower | | | | bodybuilding. Bodybuilders strive for the classic V, |
| hips and back stationary. Use your abs. | | | | inverted triangle upper body shape. Wide shoulders |
| TWISTING TOE TOUCH | | | | chest, tapering down to a narrow waist. |
| Lie on your back with your Legs and feet together. | | | | Performing these overt oblique exercises could |
| Now raise your legs up to a 90º angle from your | | | | seriously inhibit your potential to achieve this V shape. |
| upper torso. Raise your arms straight above you. | | | | So don't do them. |
| Reach out with your left arm and shoulder off the floor | | | | AB-SOLUTE DEFINITION: ROUTINES |
| and touch the outside of your right foot. Return to the | | | | Now that you are familiar with the exercises, we will |
| start position and repeat with the other side. | | | | go into the routines. They range from beginner to |
| THE BICYCLE | | | | advanced. If you are a total newcomer to exercise, |
| This movement is so called because it is similar to | | | | start at Level 1, otherwise Level 2 or 3. Each Level |
| riding a bike. Keeping your feet and Legs together, | | | | becomes progressively "harder". Never move up a |
| while Lying on your back, bend your knees and bring | | | | Level unless you feel that you are no longer benefitting |
| your thighs up, until they are 90º to the floor. | | | | or feeling "tested" by your present Level. |
| Keeping a continual motion, move your left knee to | | | | Remember, as stated at the beginning of this |
| your right elbow and vice versa. Continue at a steady | | | | programme, if you have large fat deposits, you must |
| pace, holding for a count of 2 at the moment of peak | | | | incorporate an adjusted diet (lower calories) and |
| abs contraction. | | | | aerobic exercise (performed constantly for at Least |
| SIDE KNEE UP | | | | 20 minutes) alongside your Ab-solute Definition |
| While lying on your side, place one arm behind your | | | | exercises. |
| head, and the other arm out to your side, propping you | | | | Remember to perform all exercises with correct form |
| up. Raise both Legs up, along with your torso. Try to | | | | at the proper pace, the Ab-solute Definition |
| bring your knees and chest together. Slowly lower | | | | programme contains combinations exercise which |
| your Legs and torso to your start position and repeat. | | | | when of followed through exactly as described will |
| After completing your set, change sides and repeat. | | | | give fast explosive results. Best of Luck! |
| FAT: THE FACTS | | | | |