There are thousands of books on diet, weight loss and fitness, telling us how to get in shape. The problem with most of them is that they fail to implement a holistic approach to achieving targets of conditioning of the abdominal area. There are three key areas of health, often termed the triad of health these are:
* Emotional/limbic
* Physical/structural
* Chemical/hormonal
The two key areas that we are concerned with are the physical/structural and chemical/hormonal aspects.
Our own biomechanics are of great importance when it comes to understanding why the abdominal often look they way they do. In particular females who have a wider pelvic basin are constantly exposed to anterior pelvic tilt. Excessive pelvic tilt can cause viscerotopsis, this is due to the lower abdominals whose tone is decreased due to the anterior tilt of the pelvis, and is unable to prevent the abdominal viscera/organs spilling forwards. Therefore the lower abdominals are key in positioning the pelvis and preventing the spilling of the abdominal contents forward.
The upper abdominals are often so overworked in the pursuit of a six pack that they cause the thoracic spine or middle/upper part of the spine to excessively curve forwards. this creates a depression of the front panel and chest causing a larger concentration of skin and fat to accumulate between the ribs and pelvis. So applying sound mechanical exercises for the abdominal and upper back extensors to create postural harmony makes much more sense than doing thousands of abdominal exercises which may cause neck and back pain.
Your diet obviously has huge implications for decreasing body fat, but not necessarily the way you think. Most people are told that you need to increase the amount of carbohydrates when training and decreasing fat intake. This usually takes the form of increased bread, pasta, oats and other gluten like substances. Many fair-skinned people when tested are usually found to be sensitive to gluten, which can not only decimate the immune system, but can cause the digestive tract to become irritated causing unwanted bloating of the abdominal cavity and can shut down the ability to stabilise the spine as well.
The chemical/hormonal aspect of reducing excessive abdominal fat is often overlooked by many so called experts. Cutting out fats in particular can have a huge impact on the accumulation of body. Here are a few key points.
* Cutting out fats can cause an increase in fat storing enzymes, which increases fat distribution
* Cutting out fats can affect the regulatory effects of hormones that can affect the thyroid, which can cause weight gain
* Increasing carbohydrates can cause fat increase and subsequent weight gain
Your metabolic needs are truly individual, so never think that applying a one size diet fits all can be productive for you. Some people require much higher levels of fats and proteins than others so taking time to find out those needs are of paramount importance. Metabolic typing can help to find where your genetic needs currently lie. I have had clients effortlessly lose weight by following their metabolic typing plan and combined with a corrective exercise program to align the pelvis, help the abdominal area look the way it should!
Key exercises for aligning the pelvis and spine to help the abs look great!
Remember that acheiving a great looking abdominal area is not just about doing thousands of reps, but an interplay between mechanical and chemical health. We always need to consider the emotional factor and setting realsitic targets can help to set you on your way to a great looking body and optimal health
No comments:
Post a Comment