Dream abs: (Part 3) How to safely strengthen your abs

Jul 23, 2023 News

Fit Nest

By Davina Bagot

Kaieteur News – A few weeks ago we began examining how we can achieve our dream abs; continuing with our series this week we will be learning how to safely strengthen this part of our bodies.

Davina Bagot

Deadlifting with a barbell

While some of us may be super excited to gain a solid six pack, there are others who are more focused on the upper or lower parts of their bodies. A strong core is however key in avoiding injuries in our daily lives.

According to Araceli De Leon, an American Council on Exercise-certified health coach and certified personal trainer, “Everything in the body is connected: muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia. If there is a ‘weak link,’ compensation, imbalance and injury are prone to happen. A strong core allows someone to have proper balance, body alignment and posture and a decreased risk of injury. Core strength brings proper stability and balance to the way a person moves, regardless of fitness level or age.”

So how do we strengthen our core safely? While we may develop our own workout program with a loaded routine of abdominal exercises, the best way to strengthen our core is by actually focusing on exercises that target the entire body.

De Leon told Yahoo Life, “Compound exercises are a great way to target multiple muscle groups and the core.” Some examples include deadlifts, squats, pull-ups and standing overhead presses. An exercise that De Leon says is “essential” for core stability and strength is the plank.

According to her, “Exercises that target the core directly are great accessory exercises, but should not be your first and only form of strengthening your core.” She explains that with all exercises, it is important to make sure that proper alignment and form is the focus rather than weight, repetitions or the duration of your plank.

Plank

De Leon believes, “The most important thing to understand about wanting and having sculpted abs is that it is an aesthetic goal — it is not a health goal.” She says, “A person can be very healthy and strong and not have a defined six-pack.”

Goblet squat with weights

While the aesthetics of a six pack can be appealing, sculpted abs for some would mean they have to go lower than what is a recommended body fat percentage for men or women. De Leon says that is neither sustainable nor healthy as the main priority should be your health.

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Davina Bagot, dream, Goblet squat, Plank, weights

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