Dear Friends,
How do you feel about your abs? It wasn't until I started having major back issues that I realized how important it is to have strong abdominal muscles. It isn't necessarily about how our abs look, but they need to be strong and toned to carry us through life. Today I'm speaking with Sarah Rector about her course Be Abtastic in 7 Days. If you have ever taken one of Sarah's courses before, or train with her on our app, OMFIT, you know how fun she is. I would do anything she asked me to do, including working on my abs. Let's find out more.
Madisyn Taylor: Working on my abs has been a game changer in terms of helping my chronic lower-back pain. I haven't been back to the chiropractor in a long time! Why is having a strong core so crucial to our health, and how can it help us?
Sarah Rector: Having a strong core is key to having a healthy body. It helps prevent injuries and boosts performance and stamina levels, so those are all-around benefits for your everyday life. If you have lower back issues, your back is stronger than your core area, so you need to develop more core strength to balance out. It's very easy to develop back pain, especially if you have a job that requires you to sit at a desk. You let your posture slump and body fold forward, arching your back and putting strain on neck, shoulder, and back muscles. Core strength helps lift your posture, lengthening out your spine and releasing any lower back pain. It even helps the way you walk and gives you a more confident appearance.
MT: We've all heard of six-pack abs, but can we have healthy abs without having a "pack"? And what exactly are the abdominal muscles?
SR: Your abdominal muscles are one big muscle sheet from your pubic bone to your rib cage. Many people think that if you haven't got a six-pack then you are not healthy or fit, but you can be superfit and healthy without having one. In the fitness world, a six-pack is visually pleasing to the eye but not an indication of overall health. Whether you have a six-pack, four-pack, or two-pack depends on your genetics, fat content, and how you train and eat.
MT: The lessons begin with correct form, basic ab exercises, and slow and controlled breath work. As the course progresses, exercises that engage the different abdominal muscles are added, and the tempo increases. Talk to me about the course's structure and its benefits
SR: No matter what you learn in life you have to start with the basics. This course is designed to give you a foundation in how to work your abs and teach you breath work, which is great for focusing and mindfulness and useful for the entire course. I then added the obliques so students would have time to get familiar with that particular muscle area, which gives us that really nice, sculpted core. Everything else in the course felt like a natural progression. The variety of moves was important to me because I wanted students to see how much work can be accomplished in the 15-minute workouts. As for tempo, when we use different speeds of movement we are able to get more variety in our workout. Also, quicker moves increase the heart rate, add more heat in the body, and give you that real workout feel. However, do not be fooled by the slower moves. They definitely activate your muscles and give you more time to really hone in on doing the movements correctly.
MT: Most people hate working out their abs, myself included. Thankfully the results show quickly! What would you say to somebody who feels sluggish about starting work on their abdominal core?
SR: First of all, I completely understand the sluggish feeling. I sometimes get that myself--we are all human! But I want this course to really open your eyes to how much fun working on your abs can be. If you aren't used to working out your abs, this course is the perfect opportunity to get a quick workout that will give you results. It's important to look at the bigger picture--setting your body up now will help prevent you from acquiring injuries as you age. Those 15 minutes will fly by and give you a stronger core. This alone is a huge reason why you should get yourself moving. You will have a stronger, healthier life.
MT: We are all built differently, we can control what we eat and how much we move, but we can't control our genetic makeup (yet!). Since some people are prone to carrying their weight in the midsection, can they benefit equally?
SR: I'm happy we can't control our genetic makeup as it means we would become lazy! Yes, diet is a great help when it comes to our needs and goals. The midsection can be a tricky part, but I will always say that as long as you are moving and doing some form of exercise then you are going down the right road. This course is great for anyone trying to work more on their midsection because this is a concentrated and focused approach to the abdominal area. In addition to the course, I would do a little bit of cardio such as my classes on OMFIT, or after taking the course for the first time you could repeat it and add more speed to the moves for a real cardio burn.
MT: Will students taking this course get sore muscles, and is that a good thing? Why do we get sore muscles, and do you have a remedy for them?
SR: Yes, students who take this course will get sore muscles as long as they make the effort and really push themselves to the limit. Soreness comes from microscopic tears in the fibers of your connective tissues, and that soreness is essential to developing muscles and definition. Those tears let your body know it's time to start repairing the muscles, which means your muscles are developing. Note: Micro tears are good and eventually go away, major tears are extremely painful and mean you have an injury. As for a remedy, you could try stretching or a hot bath with Epsom salts. There is no one cure. Just try to look at the achiness as hard work that's paying off.
MT: What causes our body/muscles to shake sometimes while working out?
SR: Shaking is a great sign! It means some of your muscles have gone to sleep, and you are waking them up and making them work. It also means you are really pushing yourself, and that's such a great feeling. Make sure you don't overdo it though--always listen to your body. There's a fine line between working hard and overdoing it.
MT: Once students have finished the seven lessons, what should their new routine look like?
SR: This course can be done as much as you like. If you want to make it harder, add equipment. You can use light hand weights for some of the moves, then add some ankle weights. You can mix it up by increasing the speed of the movements if you are looking for a sweatier cardio session, or for more controlled stability you could slow everything down. The most important thing is that you do it. Happy working out!
Looking for the fastest, easiest, and most fun way to get strong, sexy, sculpted abs? Look no further. A strong, toned core isn't just the ultimate accessory for wearing summer shorts and swimsuits, it also mobilizes and balances your upper and lower body, protects your spine and creates a stable foundation for every activity you do. There's never been a better time to add these highly effective ab workouts to your exercise routine, and all you need is 15 minutes a day for 7 days to see and feel a big difference!
Starting today, you will receive a new lesson every day for 1 week (total of 7 lessons). Each lesson is yours to keep and you'll be able to refer back to it whenever you want. And if you miss a lesson or are too busy to get to it that day, each lesson will conveniently remain in your account so you won't have to search for it when you're ready to get back to it.
We are offering this course with the option of selecting how much you want to pay. No matter how much you pay, you'll be getting the same course as everybody else. We simply trust that people are honest and will support the author of the course with whatever they can afford. And if you are not 100% satisfied, we will refund your money.
Thank you, Sarah. I'm feeling very motivated to get a little more serious with my abs, especially with summer right around the corner! Until next time.
Be well,
Madisyn Taylor
Cofounder, Editor-in-Chief
DailyOM
