Over the years I have let myself go. By that I mean I stopped exercising and let myself gain weight. I went to my doctor and he said, “An six pack abs workout would be wonderful for you!” I did not share in his delightful attitude. I was ready for a change, but did not want to work, especially on my abs.
Of course, he had to give me all the technical details. I am a simple woman and cannot decipher all that mumbo jumbo. I asked him to tell me in layman terms why, exactly, people should do the ab workout to work their ab muscles. What is the use? Since I am lazy about exercising, I was hoping he would tell me it was only about aesthetics.
Apparently, the abdomen muscles are in triplicate. This means there are three parts. The first he explained are the Rectus Abdominis. When I tried to pronounce these words, I got completely tongue tied. Thankfully his description was easier. These are the ab muscles most people treasure. People work hard to display them to the world.
Next on the list: Transversus Abdominis. I feel like I am taking a class in a foreign language. Terry told me this is probably normal for most people. I asked him why. He stated this muscle is not known by too many people. Because it is not seen on the surface, it is not thought of. This muscle help when you must exhale explosively. I think I am learning something here.
Finally, there are the Obliques. I do like the sound of that word. It was explained to me that these help me to stand straight. The obliques also allow me to rotate my upper body, and with moving side to side. I found out something new about my body. I did not learn this in health class.
Whether we know it or not, we each day must use our abdomen muscles. Without them it would be very (if not totally) difficult to move. When we bend over, we use our abdomen. When we turn our torso, we use these muscles. When we reach, these fibers are stretched. The simple movement of sitting up requires the use of our ab muscles.
Transversus Abdominis. I have a surprise for you. Most people do not even know these exist. They are probably the least thanked of all the abdominal muscles. You know what they say, “out of sight, out of mind.” The Transversus Abdominis are needed when you forcefully exhale.
You can search the Internet for a great lower abs workout. There are many resources on the types of exercises you can do to make your stomach area stronger. If you prefer, you can find books in your public library. You can hire a personal trainer. You may even have a friend (or friends) who can help you start an exercise regimen. What ever you decide to do make sure you study extensively what your options are. You may want to get the opinion of your health care provider before you begin any exercise program. Start slowly and progress at your own pace.
