I was recently asked by Cindy, CA
How do I know when my core is strong enough?
Ask The Fitness Dude’s answer:
In order to find out how strong you are in the core, or if you are strong enough, there is a wonderful test called the trunk-stability push up. This move will allow you to access if you need to be stronger in your core.Here is how you do a trunk-stability push up. Lie face down on the floor like you are about to do a push up, but instead of placing your hands beneath your shoulders move them forward until your thumbs are in line with the top of your forehead. Now try to push yourself up. If your back can stay perfectly straight, your core is solid, you can continue to do you normal core routines and be happy. If you had to contort your torso to get your body up, try again but keep your thumbs in line with your chin. If you can do a perfect 
push up in this position, your core is average, if you can’t do a perfect push up then that means you need to add more core focused routines in your workout sessions. By adding a front bridge to your weekly workouts, you can definitely improve the strength of your core. Assume a push up position but with your forearms resting on the floor. Your elbows should be under your shoulders and bent 90 degrees. Brace your abs and hold for 45 seconds, and repeat.
I hope that answered your question.
First: You are going to want to slide the handle to the top of the pulley system. This exercise is easiest when the rope is attached, but you also can you the v-bar if the rope is not available. Beginners will want to start with a lighter weight, until you get the hang of it.
Lets face it, parties and family gatherings are fun…well at least parties are. But when you mix fun with delicious food, then you have a recipe for a weight loss disaster. So you need to switch up your game plan a little bit, most the year you are probably focusing on how to lose weight, but during the holiday season you need to focus on how to not gain weight. Weight management! The holidays are way to fun to dismiss, and it will only cause you frustration and disappointment if you decide not to eat these delicious foods. You main goal should be to keep your weight stable through these times.
You cannot target fat loss to one specific area on your body, it is very important to do abdominal workouts (which we will talk about), but it cannot be the only thing you do. You need to incorporate cardiovascular training, weight lifting, and interval training. You need to turn your body into a fat burning machine, and you do that by raising your lean muscle mass, because muscles burns fat. You also need to have a healthy diet, there are certain foods that can help you get your sexy flat abs, like foods with protein, and foods that are either whole grain or whole wheat. But let get to some of the reasons why strong flat abs are important, other than just looking good.
Yes, great looking abs go further than just skin deep, it’s not all about looking good. There are many health benefits to strengthening your core that will help you live a long and healthy life. If you are experiencing back pain, most the time it is because of the baggage you are carrying up front. Your back is supporting all that weight called your belly, or beer belly. Strengthening your abs will also help you with everyday activities. Just think about all the movements we do, twisting, bending, pushing, and pulling, we engage our core far more than we realize, and if we had a strong core than we would be less likely to injure ourselves. Belly fat has also been related to heart disease, the fat that surrounds our midsections is said to be the most dangerous fat for our hearts.
