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Women's Fitness: Abs Training
One of the more well-known focuses of women's fitness is the abs, and the reason is clear; the abdominal area has become a symbol of good health and fit living, so many people who begin new workout routines are hoping to reach that pinnacle which was created by Hollywood and television.
Of course, this doesn't mean that abdominal training has no place in women's fitness… abs provide support to the body and protection to a number of important bodily functions, so keeping them in good condition is highly recommended.
If you're serious about women's fitness the abs are a great place to start, just make sure that you understand the truth about abdominal training routines and not just the infomercial hype.
The Abs and What They Do
Once you better understand the abdominal muscles and their functions, then you will see why they are considered to be so important to women's fitness.Abs are the group of muscles that extend from the sternum and ribcage down to the pelvis, and they serve four primary functions. They help to support the trunk of the body, they protect organs such as the stomach, intestines, and uterus, they allow for the body to twist at the waist, and they provide much of the muscular strength that it involved with lifting with either the arms or the legs.
Because of the importance of these four functions to women's fitness, abs should be worked regularly to help tone their muscles and reinforce the abdominal wall.
Building Strong Abdominals
As with any part of women's fitness, abs require more than just exercise; healthy and toned abdominals need a good mix of standard exercise, a healthy diet, and aerobic exercise so that they can achieve their full potential.You should be careful when performing standard exercises which have long been declared as good for building powerful abs, as many of these can put unnecessary strain on the back and the joints if done improperly.
Sit-ups and crunches can be great ways to work the abdominals, but it's important that you make sure that your feet are firmly on the ground and your knees are bent properly when you begin.
Make smooth motions instead of jerky ones, and make sure that you stop if you begin to experience any back pain at all. Stretch thoroughly before beginning any abdominal exercises, making sure that your stomach muscles are warmed up, and finish up with leg lifts and additional stretches to prevent cramps or other muscular problems with your abs.
When designing a program for women's fitness your abs should be one of the focus points of it, but make sure that you treat them right or else you may end up with muscle strains or other injuries both in your abdominals and your back.