On the Road to Solid Abs, Steer Clear of These Mistakes

Posted by smithshaper on March 24th, 2021

Body building enthusiasts expect that their devotion and hard work in the gym will result in well-defined muscles including sculpted six pack abs. Some fitness enthusiasts desire a reduction in belly fat and a tighter stomach while others aim to increase their core strength. Regardless of the motive, it’s important to approach the targeting of abdominal muscles in a no-nonsense way, as efficiently and productively as possible. Unfortunately, some of us make certain mistakes in our quest to flatten and carve abdominal muscles.

Before we discuss the mistakes to avoid, it’s important to make sure that portable exercise equipment for abs is available to you. Ideally, you integrate cost effective equipment into your workout routine so that on days when you can’t make it to the gym, you can still get in a full body workout. Of course, this also allows you to achieve a good ab burn on your ab targeting days.

What to Avoid

•  One of the first mistakes that people make while training their abs is they do not integrate the use of resistance. Adding occasional resistance to your ab workout will enable you to vary your workout and increase muscle engagement. For example, free weights can be added on the top of a flat ab rolling exerciser such as the SMITHSHAPER® SQUATX™ or Ab Squat Rider when performing ab roll outs. The SQUATX also enables resistance bands to be used which can add additional resistance at the beginning of the ab roll. Another popular option is to hold the free weight against your chest while performing sit-ups. It’s important to remain focused on the quality of the reps, not the quantity.

•  Many fitness enthusiasts move on to other muscle groups too soon during their workouts and avoid truly taxing their abdominals. No doubt it’s tough work but it’s important to devote adequate workout time and adequate training days to several abdominal and oblique building exercises. Abdominals are just like any of your body’s other muscle groups, and so they must be trained in the same way, with intensity and focus.

•  Another mistake some make is to rush their ab exercise reps. Abdominals call for controlled reps so they shouldn’t be performed in haste. Your goal should be to obtain full extension and retraction of your upper and lower abs. This should be done slowly and in a controlled manner with good breathing throughout. You should be able to feel a tight squeeze at the peak of the rep.

•  Lastly, ensure your posture is correct for the exercise at hand. If your body being out of position you will not achieve the goal of the exercise. Proper movement is everything and if you get it wrong, your ab muscles will not sufficiently progress through various planes of motion, which are a must for abs to develop properly. For instance, when doing ab rolls, it is important to keep the shoulders and hips properly aligned. If your hips dip, your spine will be subjected to unnecessary stress.

Avoid these common mistakes and you will likely be well on the path to achieving your six-pack abs.
In closing, sonsider SMITHSHAPER portable and versatile exercise solutions such as the SQUATX, Ab Squat Rider and TR-BAR™ / TR-BAR Plus™ as these are excellent examples of small exercise equipment for home that can be used indoors or outdoors to strengthen your core, develop your abs and build up your legs, glutes, chest, and arms, while consuming minimal space.