Sports Nutrition > Abdominal Exercises

Abdominal Exercises

The single purpose of abdominal exercises is to strengthen one's abdominal muscles. There are many varieties of abdominal exercises, all providing slightly different results. Many people know what these exercises do for your abdomen, but few people know why they are so important. By exercising your abdominal muscles, you are providing core stability. This is very important to your body because not only do these muscles protect internal organs and assist in breathing, they also allow the body to bend and twist. Some of the most popular abdominal exercises are the "sit-up" and "crunch"; which both involve a sitting position, and moving your upper body towards your knees. These are basic exercises, used mainly by people who believe they do not have any other abdominal exercises to do. More advanced, and helpful abdominal exercises include the "bicycle", and using an exercise ball to do the "crunch". Using different abdominal exercises, just as with any other part of the body, is important to success. Using the same exercises over and over causes that exercise to become a learned response, and the body does not build muscle as quickly. Be wary of over exertion, and be sure to properly support your back while performing abdominal exercises. And as always, be safe.