We all want to get rid of excess body fat. And because food is so good, we tend to eat more than our bodies need. Surpluses in this area become all too painfully apparent on our bulging bellies. We affectionately call them love handles, but they are far from adorable. So we work hard, doing everything we can to get rid of them. Unfortunately, some of the information we work with when trying to lose fat are myths that do more harm than good. Due to years of misinformation, these myths have somehow been seen as truth when, in fact, they can be potentially dangerous to your health.
Before beginning any abdominal exercise, it is important that you know these fallacies and the truth behind them all so that you can formulate an abdominal exercise routine that is safe and effective. Here it goes:
Myth #1: Doing endless crunches will cause you to lose belly fat and trim your abs.
Reality: This is the blemish reduction myth and that is what it is: a myth. No matter how many crunches you do, it will do nothing to trim your bulging belly. A full-body workout made up of cardio and strength-training exercises is the only routine guaranteed to burn body fat, including those ugly stomach bulges. Along with exercise, proper nutrition must also accompany all attempts to reduce abdominal fat.
Myth #2: Exercising your abs every day will make belly fat disappear.
Fact: Your abs are muscles. Like any muscle in the human body, you need to train them gradually, intensifying them as you build more endurance. However, you can’t do that seven days a week for hours on end. You need to give your muscles time to rest so they can heal themselves and eventually give you lean abs. An ideal strength training routine should last no more than an hour and should only be done three to five days a week.
Myth #3: Exercising your abdominal muscles more than the rest of your body will burn off all your excess abdominal fat.
Fact: If you want to trim belly fat, you need to work on reducing your overall fat levels. Effective routines should not only focus on working your abs, but every other muscle as well. Your chest, back, pelvic, arm, leg, and calf muscles should also be exercised if you want to burn calories efficiently. You should also vary your abdominal exercises to get the best results. In addition, you must develop a strong core (composed of the muscles of the abdominals, back, and pelvis) so that you will achieve proper posture as well. Standing tall, keeping your chin up while maintaining slight tension in your lower abs flattens your stomach and makes you appear taller and slimmer.
Now that you know the truth about these myths, you need to formulate your abdominal exercise routine accordingly. Full body workouts made up of cardio and strength training routines three to five times a week are ideal. Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity, but don’t overdo it. All of your exercises should be accompanied by healthier food choices and eating habits. With these, you should be on your way to slimmer abs in no time.
