5 Rules For AWESOME Abs.

Do you want AWESOME Abs?

If the answer is no... who even are you? (And you're probably going to want to stop reading this email).

Awesome abs are one of the most sought-after muscle groups when it comes to changing how your physique looks.

Whether you genuinely want a rippling 8 pack, or you simply want a leaner more defined look that you're currently sporting, it's often right at the top of peoples lists of wants.

Either way, the process is the same, so I've put together for you these 5 Rules For AWESOME Abs to help make sure the work you put in pays off exactly how you want it to.

1. Thou Shall Understand The Function Of The Abs

The single best way to train a muscle is to train it in conjunction with how it's designed to operate. If you ask it to do things it's not designed to do, it wont respond well and issues will arise.

So how are the abs designed to function?

They're part of the "core" along with your obliques and lower back, and work to both create movement (flexion, lateral flexion, extension, rotation) and also resist movement (anti-extension, anti-flexion and anti-rotation.

All this means is that you need to include movements that tick all these boxes throughout your training program with a combination of concentric (flexing) motions and isometric (bracing) holds.

That way you'll have an AWESOME core that both works and looks better than everyone else's.

2. Though Shall Maintain Balance

The main reason for ticking all the core function boxes is to create structural balance to the core, making sure it's equally able to flex and extend, rotate, and brace.

This keeps your core healthy, which in turn keeps a TON of other joints and structures healthy?

If you solely focus on the crunches, sit-ups and ab curls that give you the feeling of working your abs hard, and not enough of the oblique and lower back work that creates the all-round balance to the core you're on a fat track to a cranky back and hips.

PLUS, a balanced core will help you LOADS on other hugely bang for buck exercises like pull-ups and chin-ups, press-ups, squats, deadlifts, bent over rows and standing overhead presses.

Being able to generate more core tightness on these movements help them progress faster, creating more overall strength, muscle and calorie burn.

3. Though Shall Continue To Crunch

That being said, don't fall into the trap of becoming a "functional knobhead" and only do static bracing movements.

The core IS still designed to flex, and doing exercises that promote that under load are going to play a HUGE part in getting AWESOME abs.

There is a reason sit-ups and leg raises have been in programmes for years. They work. If you're learn and have visible abs but they're not as blocky or pronounced as you'd like them to be, ab-flexion movements are the route to the progress you want.

You're simply going to HAVE to flex those abs.

4. Though Shall Maintain Tension

The abs are one of those muscle groups that get hit with high rep low load workouts to chase the burn, but most ab workouts would be hugely improved if they were done for lower reps with better technique focussing on maintaining tension.

Sit-ups and crunches are often hit with momentum rather than a squeeze.

Let lowers and raises can often stress the hip-flexors too much and the abdominals too little.

Even the basic plank is commonly done with an extended lumbar spine rather than short abs and a tucked pelvis.

To progress your abs you actually need to load them with work, not the other structures around them.

5. Though Shall Remember Your Body Composition

Even when doing all of these above points to a tee, you could still not have visible abs if your body composition isn't where it needs to be.

You can have brutally strong, large abdominal muscles that you just cannot see due to a layer of abdominal body-fat existing on top.

If that's the case, rather than spending an extra 15 minutes 3 times a week on additional core work, spend that time on shopping better, cooking better and preparing better for your daily eating.

It'll help you make huge progress towards getting visible abs.

Thanks,

Ian.