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Abdominal Fitness Equipment

Sick and tired of that flabby belly? Want to set that six pack free for the world to see?  If you're ready to pull out your wallet to buy a piece of abdominal fitness equipment because you think it will shrink that mighty gut, you might want to think again.  Because a great ab workout may not need the Ab Cruncher, the Ab Blaster or any other ab workout machine. Then again, maybe it does.

What is it about those abdominals? Fat can collect just about any other place, but when it's on our bellies, just sort of hanging there, pinching at our belt line, and all too visible, it's like a badge of how badly we've let things go.  So it's no wonder that we're such suckers for each new crop of abdominal fitness equipment that springs up year after year.

The curious thing is, there's no better abdominal exercise than the simple crunch and no abdominal exercise machine that beats it.  Athletes do crunches and bodybuilders do crunches, and if you want a great ab workout, you should know about crunches, too.

Here's how to do a crunch in three simple steps:

• Lie flat on your back, preferably on something comfortable like an exercise equipment mat. Bend your knees, place your feet flat on the floor and leave your arms at your sides
• Now contract your abdominal muscles, tighten the muscles of your butt and tilt your pelvis up.  At the same time, slowly curl your head up to the point where your shoulder blades rise up off the floor.
• Finally, ease back down, then repeat, being sure to exhale on the upward movement and to inhale as you head back down.

Why is the crunch a great abs workout?

Because it provides a lower ab workout, upper ab workout, and  promotes  body flexibility.

Because it's a natural movement that if done properly, safely tones and builds abdominal muscle endurance. 

Because it's an ab workout routine that you can do just about anywhere - at the beach, on the floor, or in bed . 

And because, unlike the old fashioned sit-up, one of the outdated abdominal exercises that could strain the back, the properly executed crunch stresses only the muscles of the belly and midrif.  And one word of caution for you home gym warriors prone to excess: be advised that doing crunches using free weights, a weight stack or weight plates, is unnecessary, potentially harmful and not definitely recommended.

"But wait," you say. "What about the ab workout machine at the gym? That's the best ab workout I ever got!"

The answer to which is- you're probably right. The gym's abs exercise machine, (and your home gym ab exercise equipment too)  may actually be better- a lot better than the humble crunch.  Why? Because the best abs workout is one that you actually do, and the best ab workout machines, with their springs and hydraulics and padded handles and seats make it easier, more interesting, and sometimes more fun, which translates into something that you're going to need a lot of in any successful ab workout plan- motivation.

So toss out your sit-ups, do your crunches, and if abdominal fitness equipment is going to help you squeeze out ten or fifteen more belly-busting reps, you might want to go with your gut and buy one.

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