MF highlights the 5 most common mistakes preventing people from seeing their abs
Mistake one: Ignoring the importance of compound exercises
If you only concentrate your abs workout on performing isolation exercises you’re missing a trick. Compound movements such as squats, deadlifts and overhead presses will engage your entire core, strengthening your abs from all angles. Don’t leave them out of your training program.
Mistake two: Having an entire workout just for your abs
Don’t make the mistake of feeling as though you need to waste an entire session at the gym just on your abs. 15 minutes is all you need. If you are already taking the above advice and doing compound exercises in your workout then you only really need one or two different abs exercises for maybe 2-3 sets at the end of each workout.
Mistake three: Thinking that crunches are the be-all and end-all of abs exercises
This is a common mistake. A lot of people seeking out a six-pack tend to think that they can just crunch one out. No other exercises, just crunches. Not true. There are a plethora of exercises that are actually just as effective, if not more effective than the overused crunch. The dumbbell led abs moves outlined above target more of the muscles in that area than the crunch so change it up and inject some life into your six-pack workout.
Mistake four: Forgetting about your lower back
Often when people train their core they only think of it as the front and the side, but the core has a back too. The lower back muscles often suffer from neglect, a cardinal sin amongst many a six-pack seeker. If you want your core to be strong, treat your lower back just as you would your abs. It might not get you as much female attention but it’s important to train it hard for muscle balance and core strength.
Mistake five: Trying to out-crunch your diet
No, doing 100 crunches a day will not burn off that kebab so stop wasting your time. The secret to visible abs isn’t how many crunches you can do but how low your body fat percentage is. You won’t burn off that excess fat by doing endless crunches, you can train your abs all you want but no one will ever see them if you don’t have your diet in check. Amalgamating cardio workouts, abs exercises and a strict diet is the golden triangle to six-pack
