Using Resistance Bands In Stomach Exercises

Using Resistance Bands In Stomach Exercises

Using resistance bands can be an effective component of any workout routine, and stomach exercises are no exception. There are a number of exercises targeting the midsection that incorporate resistance bands. Resistance bands come in a variety of difficulties, usually indicated by the color of the band itself (e.g., green can be little resistance, yellow may be medium, red for difficult, etc.). Choose a resistance level that is appropriate for you, then move up as necessary. Do not overdo it by immediately grabbing the most advanced band you can find, as this can lead to injury. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Seated Crunch
This exercise provides the same benefits as the basic abdominal crunch, but with less neck strain and without the possible discomfort that comes with lying on the floor, since it uses a band rather than gravity to provide resistance. For this stomach exercise, you will need to be sitting in a straight back chair which you can somehow loop your band through. Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and about as wide apart as your hips. Contract your abdominal muscles, and slowly bend forward to about a forty-five degree angle. Repeat for an entire set. Be sure to keep your feet on the floor and your back as straight as possible.

One-Arm Band Pull
Put the chair away and stand up, again with feet hip width apart. Put your hands above your head, holding the band about eighteen inches apart. Keeping your left hand overhead, bring your right hand out to the side, elbow bent at about a ninety degree angle. Hold your left arm still as you contract your abdominals and lower your right arm until your hand is in line with your chest. Hold this position, then slowly return. Repeat for an entire set, then switch hands. Keep your back straight and avoid bending or leaning at the waist. For an additional challenge, do this exercise standing on one foot. Perform the exercise with both hands while standing on your left foot, then do it all again on your right foot.

Twisting Roll-Back
For this stomach exercise, you will need to sit on a flat surface, preferably the floor. Use a mat or towel for cushioning to ease possible strain on your tail bone. Sit down with your legs bent and heels on the floor. Your toes should be pointing up-- do not put your feet flat on the floor. Loop the band around your feet, put one end in each hand and put your hands together. In a rolling motion, lower your torso toward the floor about forty-five degrees. As you do this, twist to the right and spread your hands to the sides. Hold for a second, then rotate back to the middle and raise your torso back to start. Your heels should remain on the floor throughout the exercise. Do a full set, then switch to the left side.

BONUS : Vegan Diets

It's tough to be a vegan! Vegans do not eat meat of any kind or use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products.

"Vegan" is a more extreme version of vegetarian that extends far beyond just food consumption. The reasons why people adopt a vegan lifestyle are varied. Some choose the lifestyle because of ethical concerns. (This is the reason that most vegans cite.) But people also become vegans because of concerns about the environment. Still others become vegans to promote a gentler and more caring world.

For whatever reason a person chooses a vegan lifestyle, they soon find that adhering to the "no animal or animal products" rule is pretty difficult to

maintain. There are animal products in a lot more items than just the 16-ounce T-bone you had for dinner last night, or the tuna sandwich you had for lunch today.

Fast food is automatically excluded from a vegan diet. Most food at restaurants is also excluded, although vegan restaurants are operating in many large cities today. The food that vegans eat is mostly fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, and fruit and vegetables cooked without the use of any animal products.

There are substitutions for meat-based products on the market today that are vegan friendly. Tofu and soy-based products are the most common, and there are even packaged snack foods out there that conform to vegan eating requirements.

Nutrition is a major concern for vegans. Although they consume enough food as far as quantity goes, quality is another matter. We all need protein — a lot of it — and we need it every day. Vegans must be very well aware of their need for protein and take positive steps to be certain that their protein needs are met.