Summary: As a trainer, I am constantly asked by people how they can target their "lower abs." In actuality, there is no such thing as lower abs. Humans are programmed to store excess fat in the lower abdomen region for survival. Unfortunately, this God-given (or, evolution-given) trait is unbecoming if stored in high amounts. And the site of it tricks us into thinking all of those crunches we're doing aren't paying off. Fat loss in your abdomen can only come from a consistent program of cardiovascular exercise and a nutrition plan low in sugar and refined carbohydrates. Read these words: you CAN eat carbs!! Complex or simple carbs in minimal portions. Along with a good program to help you burn the fat, toning the abdominal muscles will make them stronger and look more defined. The abdomen is made up of a series of muscles. The region in the center we target for a six-pack is the Rectus Abdominis. Performing jackknife crunches can target this muscle in it's entire range of motion, upper and lower. Along the sides of the Rectus Abdominis are the Internal and External Oblique muscles. These can be targeted from twisting motions, such as the bicycle crunch. The Transverse Abdominis is the muscle in the center of the core underneath the obliques, which acts as a girdle. To condition this muscle, you can perform exercises that invert the pelvis, such as a prone position pike on a fit ball. See this awesome abdominal workout in this week's podcast, and try it yourself!
