Comments on: Get Rockin’ Hot Abs by Never Doing Another Crunch

By: Diana Moore

Diana Moore — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:07:03 +0000

Thanks for sharing this. I have been doing these exercises for ages but without the weights, using just the resistance from my own arms.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:31:51 +0000

Sara–

This post is a little (okay, a lot) late, but if you haven’t yet, I’d love to see that ab-smart eating write-up!

By: AJ

AJ — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:17:49 +0000

Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.

I’d say 90% diet, 10% exercise.

I do 5×5 dragon flags, on a Mon/Wed/Fri basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjCMq2zkbOo

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:11:31 +0000

The hissing sound helps to push air from the very bottom of your lungs by stressing the diaphragm. Imagine if you took a pop bottle, filled it with water, and tried to empty it by squeezing it from the top. All that stuff down in the bottom stays there. When you breathe from the diaphragm and exhale completely, you get all the old air from your lungs and get a much better breathing cycle going. Ishinryu Karate uses this technique a great deal.

From the way I read the article, if you do this properly you should look like a hissing zombie with dumbbells in both hands if that helps anyone visualize the actual movements you should do.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:51:23 +0000

No worries, Ilham! I appreciate all the feedback – helps me become a better writer. You don’t bend or lower. You stand straight up, making sure to keep your hips tucked, and raise your arms up in a controlled fashion (they need to be in a locked, straight position). The hissing is simply what the expert recommends, I’m not really sure, although I suspect it might help you flex the right muscles and maintain ultimate tension (akin to how pressing your tongue to your front teeth while doing sit ups will minimize strain on your neck).

Funny anecdote: I used to have a roommate who did this and hissed VERY loudly. The rest of us would be minding our business watching TV or making food in the kitchen and we’d hear these hissing emanations from downstairs…but hey, he WAS super ripped.

By: Ilham Hafizovic

Ilham Hafizovic — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:47:14 +0000

I loved the article, but I just want to fully understand! Maybe I’m tired so can’t think straight, but do you mean that I should lower my arms or bend my whole body down in a crunch position? Also while I am hissing is it preferable that I let relieve the tension in my body?

By: al

al — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:27:45 +0000

The only thing is, that to show the muscle on your body, you have to burn off the layer of fat that covers the muscle.
To burn fat, you have to burn fat calories, and the only way to do that is through high intensity exercise (i.e. interval training, tempo workouts, circuit training). You could do hundreds of thousands of sit-ups and still not have ripped six-packs if you still have fat on top of it.

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:51:25 +0000

Bill, there are a couple ways to do it. Your arms are locked, so yes, they are straight, and it’s a really controlled “swing” if that helps. You can alternate lifting your arms in front and lifting them to the sides to really get a workout (the sides will work your delts nicely). Either way, it must be very controlled and you must raise your arms at least to your shoulders. As far as direction for the hands…hmm, I honestly don’t know that it matters! I like to have my palms facing in, actually, as this requires more focus and concentration, but I think it’s probably up to you and I’m sure there are some different reasons for each.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:13:18 +0000

For the standing weights – do your arms go straight forwards from your hips? Does it make any difference which way your hands are oriented – ie palm up or palm down?

Thanks

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 02:21:48 +0000

Thanks Jonathan!