Crunch Free Ways to Transform Your Abs

Crunch Free Ways to Transform Your Abs


Adopt these Pilates-inspired tricks to strengthen your entire core and improve your posture.
By Lara Rosenbaum
If hitting the beach conjures painful thoughts of skimpy suits, Brazilian wax jobs and itchy sun burn, here’s one way to make the body-baring preparation a whole lot easier. By incorporating Pilates-inspired moves into your fitness routine, you can strengthen and shape your entire core all without doing a single crunch on the floor. What’s more, you’ll straighten your posture and improve your balance—so you can not only look hot in your bikini, but you’ll torch the competition in beach volleyball, too. Here, Pilates Master trainer Lizbeth Garcia, owner of Tilcia Studio in San Diego shows you how to sculpt your midsection and stand tall. Aim to perform the following tricks three to five times a week, and according to Garcia, you’ll see noticeable results in six weeks—just in time for Summer.Prop into Plank: You’ve heard of this move, but this core-building exercise has become a classic for a reason. “It works nearly your whole body,” Garcia says. “Your core encompasses your entire trunk—from your shoulders to your pelvis. And planks target your spinal and pelvic muscles, too, along with all of your abs—internal, external, obliques and rectus and transverse abdominals.”Even better, planks promote core stability, which can enhance athleticism and balance. (Thinking, looking good while remaining injury-free.) Try Belly Bulge Blast on ExerciseTV with Cindi Whitmarsh for a plank variation that utilizes leg movement and especially targets the lower section of your abs.Or try Lizbeth Garcia’s No Limits Plank Series, for side planks.
“When you perform variations and especially side planks, you have to balance and work harder,” Garcia says. “It becomes more of a workout.”
Perform Stand Up’s vs. Sit Up’s: “When you stand, you add a balance challenge to your work,” Garcia says. “You lose your balance in general when you don’t have a strong core, so performing abdominal exercises while standing is like a double whammy.”
Start by focusing on your alignment, pulling your navel in towards your spine to help create a neutral, straight line in your back. You’ll want to do this when performing the plank, too. “Your alignment has to be correct to balance well,” Garcia says.
Try the standing cross crunch—as performed in Core Class, with Jessica Smith. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, and bring your left knee up toward you chest while simultaneously crunching your right elbow to your left knee. You don’t want to hunch, but rather stand strong. Repeat on the other side and continue for thirty reps.
Along with balance, bringing your knees up like this helps target the lower belly, a common trouble zone
“You also need to breathe properly,” Garcia says. “Allow your lungs to expand when you inhale, and then squeeze your navel toward your spine as you exhale. When you breathe like this it helps with your alignment and allows you to train your core more deeply
Stretch Your Spine: “Better posture naturally makes you look more slim,” Garcia says. “When you slouch, it can make your mid-section look chubby.”
Performing planks will naturally help you stand taller, as they work your shoulders and back muscles, and but it’s also important to loosen up to avoid muscle imbalances. Stretch your chest after doing exercises like push-ups and bench press, or if you frequently sit at a computer. Simply stand facing a door, and hold one end of the frame. Lean forward until you feel a stretch. Repeat on the other side.
To release your spine, however, and extend your vertebrae one by one, roll your spine as shown in Posture by Jennifer Galardi on Exercise TV.
Not only will it help you stand slimmer, it will relax all of your muscles post workout, so you can feel refreshed after your abs workout. Now there’s nothing painful about that.

Grizzy Fitness comes to The Fitness Supercenter

We are proud to have Grizzly fitness be part of our fitness family.

Here's a little about GrizzlyFitness:

Grizzly Fitness has been providing superior quality and innovative fitness accessories for over 24 years and is the #1 recognized brand for fitness accessories in Canada.
Grizzly Fitness currently supplies 44 countries worldwide including Switzerland, Norway, Japan, England, Australia, Italy, and many more. At Grizzly Fitness, our main goals are to provide the best customer service in the industry while continually evaluating our customers needs and providing the latest technology and highest quality fitness accessories in the industry!

The Fitness Supercenter's Fitness Tip

The Fitness Supercenter's Fitness & Exercise Tips for Women & Men

As we age, our bodies lose muscle tissue and our metabolism slows down. Exercise is the best way to get physically fit and lose weight. Starting an exercise regimen at any age is extremely beneficial and can add years to your life.
Working out takes discipline and should not be painful. "No pain, no gain" is just a myth and is not good advice to follow. Exercise should make you feel healthy and fit, not looking for the ibuprofen and ice packs.
Experts advise that 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity at least three times a week is beneficial for both men and women. Select the best plan that is favorable to your lifestyle, whether it is at home or a fitness club.
Opt for a form of exercise you will enjoy the most and start out slowly, increasing your activity and work out-time gradually. Consider adding basic weight training to build muscles, burn calories and control body fat.

Aerobic Activity TrainingBicycling
Brisk walking
Dancing
Jogging
Jump Rope
Roller-skating
Skiing
Swimming
Tennis
For beginners, try increasing personal fitness in your everyday life by walking more, doing some yard work, painting, and parking your car further from your destination. Not only will you have the satisfaction of getting things done, you'll enjoy the benefits of being physically fit.
You don't need to lump your exercise all in one session. Try it in 10 minute increments if this is easier for you and as time allows. While there's no plan or guarantee for everyone, get started and find out what works for you.
Consult your physician before starting any exercise routine and understand that diet and nutrition will play a big factor in your overall results.

LOOK! "GET IN SHAPE FOR 2009"

We carry high quality products from the top fitness equipment manufacturers at the lowest possible prices. Whether you want to lose weight, bulk-up or simply look great and feel great we have the equipment and supplies you need to accomplish your goals. Whether you are looking for a home treadmill or an exercise ball, weight lifting equipment or an elliptical trainer, we are the place for fitness. If need a home gym or perhaps you just have an exercise routine,that needs some additional exercise equipment. We offer products for aerobics, yoga and pilates and strength training programs too! You can reach any health and fitness goal you set for yourself !!