Who can forget the amazing abs Mark “Marky Mark” Wahlberg flashed while baring almost all for those incredible Calvin Klein ads?
Wahlberg’s ripped abdomen had thousands of wannabes trying to tone their tummies in an effort to look half as good as the singer turned actor. But, alas the majority of men (and women) who spent mornings completing countless sit ups and crunches, quickly found out that they could spend an entire day targeting their stomach muscles, but no one would ever see the results unless they ramped up their cardio workouts to melt away the fat covering those fab abs.
Toning our tummies can seem more frustrating and elusive the older we get. However, health experts warn that it is vital to our overall health to continually work on strengthening trunk muscles, collectively known as “the core.” Core muscles include the muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis. They lie roughly between the rib cage and the hips and are critical to maintain for a variety of reasons. Studies show that strengthening core muscles is important not only to excel at sports but also it helps in daily life activities such as lifting a child or mopping the floor.
Fortunately, you don’t need to invest in specialized equipment to participate in core exercises. Any exercise that employs the trunk of your body without support counts. For example, squats, push-ups and abdominal crunches. Other exercises designed specifically to strengthen your core muscles include the Bridge. To complete this exercise simply lie on your back with your knees bent. Keep your back in a neutral position–not arched and not pressed into the floor—-and tighten your abdominal muscles. Next, raise your hips off the floor until they are aligned with your knees and shoulders. Hold for three deep breaths before returning to the start position and repeating.
Fitness balls are also a great way to get in core exercises. You can work your core by sitting on a fitness ball and gently bouncing to work your abdominal, back and thigh muscles. I also find doing abdominal crunches on a fitness ball is a very effective core exercise.
What are your favorite core muscle exercises?
Michele Cheplic writes about red-hot celebrities in POP CULTURE, fiery topics in PARENTS, sizzling recipes in FOOD, calorie burning exercises in FITNESS, and hot new kid-friendly crafts in FUN. Check out all of her articles here.
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