Core muscles are better than just abs. Why? Your core is one of the most important muscle groups in your entire body. Strong core muscles make everyday movements easier. While the core muscles are so important, many people don’t know what they are. Worse still, people think that flat bellies and chiseled abs are signs of a strong core, but are in reality unrealistic body images.
In this post, you will learn what your core really is, why core exercises are important and which ones really work, and why stand-alone abs workouts aren’t really what you should be doing.
What are core muscles?
Your core is the muscle group that is in the middle of your body. Your core includes your stomach or abdominal area, middle and lower back, hips, and glutes. The main muscles of the core are your transverse abdomen, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, obliques, rectus abdominis, erector spinae, and diaphragm.
No wonder that this muscle group is so important not only for athletic performance, but also for everyday health, when you consider how many muscles make up your core.
Why are strong core muscles important?
You use your core muscles in almost every activity you do. The core muscles help you absorb things, maintain correct posture, and create strength while running and other activities. Strong core muscles also reduce the chance of back pain, especially back pain.
Everything you do uses core muscles so make sure to do your core exercises!
Best core exercises
The five best exercises for your core are:
plank
Try this one Plank variants.
bridge
V-ups
Russian twist
Lift a leg
Visit the 10 best core exercises to see how to do the exercises, plus five other great core exercises!
Follow This 16 Minute Core Workout!
Why abs workouts are a waste of time
You may have noticed that this post hasn’t mentioned building washboard abs or flat bellies yet. Many people believe that the core muscles are the same as the abs. While this mythological set of abs may be a sign of strong core muscles, you may not get abs even if you focus on core building.
We are bombarded by images of super fit people and celebrities with chiseled abs. It’s no wonder so many people think that when they have abs, they are immediately attractive and healthy. But being able to actually see your abs is mostly a function of low body fat, exercises to strengthen abs that don’t build functional muscles, and even dangerous practices like deliberate dehydration.
Abs workouts like sit-ups, crunches, and others just tone the abs. Additionally, these workouts don’t actually build functional muscles – the types of muscles you need to be able to live pain-free and do the things you want to do, such as: What abs training actually does is strain underdeveloped back muscleswhich can lead to severe back pain or even injury.
Check out these plank variations that also develop strong and healthy back muscles:
Don’t waste time on vanity abdominal workouts and exercises. Build functional core strength that you can actually use by doing the exercises above instead.
How to really get a flat stomach
So you really want it get a flat stomach even though you should really be focusing on building core muscles? Here’s how you can get it done in no time:
Does any of these things seem realistic, sustainable, healthy, or fun? Don’t confuse vanity with health. Just because you can see your abs and they look defined doesn’t mean you have strong core muscles or are healthy. Instagram abs are a waste of time: build strong core muscles, Buttocks muscles or Chest muscles instead of this!
Learn the Truth About Abs!
Why you don’t need rock hard abs or a flat stomach
Abs and flat stomach are unrealistic body images that we all fall prey to. The images of well-trained people that many of us see in the media are not what we should be striving for. Focus on building functional core muscles that will actually improve your life, not just vanity muscles that you believe will improve your life.
Treat yourself: strive for health.
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