Thread: A technique to obtaining deeply defined Abs

Proper breathing, exhaling and contracting are paramount to building deeply defined abs, but this technique is often overlooked.

I have my favorite "go to" ab exercises, but I have learned over the years that the number of reps and type of ab exercise is not nearly as crucial as concentrating on the following:

During crunches, I inhale through my nose as I lower my body down to the floor or on a ball, but as I raise my torso I exhale from my mouth (EVERY BIT OF AIR POSSIBLE OUT OF MY LUNGS) then I crunch up and contract or "squeeze" the abs very tightly for a few seconds. The exhaling and contraction should always be done as slow, deliberate and as intensely as possible. Breathing is extremely important in abdominal exercises for oxygen delivery, but exhaling all air is vital for getting the best muscle contraction.

I have used this technique for over 20 years and I swear by it's effectiveness. Every other abdominal exercise is exactly the same as the crunch when it comes to breathing, and since the abs only involve the same pulling motion from different angles, the breathing, exhaling and contraction technique is always the same.

Quality over quantity is my rule when it comes to abs.