Training your abs is a easy task. However its best to know which exercise is best and that there is a distinct difference between our abs and our core. Our "abs", or what we refer to as our abs is actually one muscle- our rectus abdominus muscle. It is one small part of the whole area between our rib cage and our pelvis that we know as our "core". For now let’s talk about that six-pack, or your abs. This may be the area of the body where most people make mistakes in training. So we will go through a few basic ground rules for training our abs:

• More is not better! Your rectus abdominus is made up of fast twitch muscle fibers. That means that it responds best to low reps such as 8-10 at a time. Your best bet is to do 3 or 4 sets of 8-12 crunches for your 6 pack. That's it. You can train your deeper core muscles after these surface ones are tired but that’s a whole discussion in itself.
• Abdominal training should always come LAST. Some people think that you should train your abs first while they are "fresh" in order to get the best results. It’s o.k. if that’s the only thing you are training that day, but if you are doing another body part- do that first. Your abs provide structural support for other exercises. If you tire them out, you will not be able to perform your best and may hurt yourself in the process.
• Remember diet is the key. No matter what you are doing in the gym, the only way to really get definition in your middle is by watching what you put in your mouth. Eating smaller meals often throughout the day will help turn your keg into a 6 pack!

Keeping your mind focused and making sure you stay consistent with your workout routine is the best way to get results fast. If you feel as though its a bit harder to get motivated then check out our excellent group exercise programs. They provide a lot of support and fun activities to get you into the spirit of working out. Contact us today to find out how you can join our gym and get started on being more healthy.

Do you stretch? Do you stretch regularly? The importance of stretching before, during and after exercise is very important on so many different levels. Not only does it prevent you from new injuries, but it can also help prevent further damage your muscles. Apart from improving your flexibility, it has a great influence on how strong you are and how you are able to move.

Your muscles are designed to be strong and tough. Hard and tense muscles are unhealthy and can be incredibly limiting regardless of what exercise you do. When your body is in rest, your muscles tend to contract. When you use them they expand and each and every fiber in the muscles moves. Like elastic bands, they expand and contract. A person who has healthy muscles have elasticity in them and they can expand and contract a lot easier without tearing.

Although tearing the entire muscles does not happen that easily, someone who is supple will be far less susceptible to injury. What many people don't know about being flexible is that it improves your overall muscle tone and enables you to get much more out of your muscles. More "elastic" muscles are capable of more and apart from the actual elasticity it’s the actual muscle fibers that are stronger when you are flexible.

Stretching does more for your body than merely leaving you smooth and injury free, it allows you to move better. It allows you to have better posture and can help in preventing things like arthritis from setting in. Stretching can also improve your cardiovascular circulation and with the correct stretching methods it can do wonders for your spine. If you have a lot of muscle aches and pains, then try stretching. It can do wonders for you. Make it a regular habit and try and stretch every morning when you wake up and every evening before you go to bed.