Learn how to tone and exercise your abdominal muscles with this episode of Health Break with Janis - Abdominal Muscles.

Video Transcription

(Music Playing) Title: Health Break with Janis “Abdominal Muscles” Close your eyes for a minute. Think of a body that you would consider fat. What part of the body is it that makes you think of fat? Okay, open your eyes. Is this the part of the body you were thinking of? Because for most of us, this is where fat is at, the sagging stomach, the pot belly. Unfortunately, many people who do not have a true weight problem make themselves look fat because of weak abdominal muscles, and all the dieting in the world would not help them. Because the only thing muscles respond to is exercise. Strong abdominal muscles go beyond cosmetic appearance because unlike the legs, arms, chest and skull where bone provides much of the support and structure. The middle part of the body only has a thin column of vertebrae. The spine cannot support the weight of the entire upper body by itself. Indeed, too much weight on it will resolve in painful back injuries and even damage to the spinal cord. Like the stakes in the barrel, it is the muscles of the abdomen that support the upper body and protect the spinal column. Likewise, it is not the skin of your stomach that keeps your insides in, it is the wall of the abdominal muscle that keeps you internal organs from flopping over one another. When these muscles are weak, the organs began to fall out and a pot belly results, unsightly, but also very unhealthy. The abdominal muscles or the abs for short, are made of a whole network of crisscrossing muscles. Some are running up and down, others run back and forth. They went from the spine to the ribs, the ribs to the hip and pelvis, and from the hip and pelvis to the spine. In the gym, we work the abs on the abdominal machine. But you can give the abs a great workout in your own living room using abdominal curls or what some people call crunches. Lye on your back on a flat surface, avoid thick carpeting. Place your hands loosely behind you head, bend your knees and place you feet flat on the floor. Then, lift your head and shoulders with slow controlled movement until your shoulder blades leave the ground. Curl the hips up, and pause. Exhale on effort as you lift up then relax again. Keep your elbow straight out and keep your eyes one ceiling. Do not pull the head up with hand, lift from the stomach muscles. Do not hook your feet under a chair and avoid seating up all the way. This can cause lower back injuries. Set a slow steady pace and repeat 20 to 50 times. To bring the oblique muscles into play, twist as you seat up. Bringing your elbow across to the opposite knee. For more advance move, use a seat up board and twist as you come up. Repeat for 20 to 50 times on each side. At first, you may need some help. Ask a friend to help to support your shoulders and concentrate on the form. Doing the exercise correctly is more important than a number of repetitions. Any source of strain you feel should be investigated and you should stop exercising until you know the cause. If you want that wash board stomach you had in high school, you will also have to shed any body fat that is hanging around your middle section. That will take a lower calorie diet or aerobic exercise, or better still both. It is worth the effort. Perhaps, no other group of body muscles can do so much for both your health and appearance as well toned abs. They protect you from back ailments and digestive disorders and give you a thinner, sexier shape. (Music Playing) Title: Health Break with Janis “Abdominal Muscles”