Holding Breath During Crunches

Shwa' · 10-04-2006, 11:10 AM

I've heard that holding your breath in during crunches helps keep the abbs tight and makes the workout a little bit more intense. Is that true?

Coug4482 · 10-04-2006, 05:49 PM

that right there may possibly give your transverse abdominals more of a workout than the traditional crunch

motof · 10-12-2006, 03:42 AM

I've always been taught to make sure to breathe and that it is very important. As I understand it, you want as much oxygen flow to the muscles as possible. I'd be interested to see the reasonings and science for this proposed idea.

Got any sources?

big g · 10-12-2006, 10:28 AM

holding your breath is not the exact improvement. yes motof you are right you want oxygen moving threw the muscles because lactic acid which is ATP's biproduct is toxic to your body. you want to circlulate that out of your body. (just in case you guys and gals dont know ATP is the energy the muscle uses). a better way to intensify ab cruches is to have someone lightly punch you in the abs which activates your reflex of contracting your abs. so this allows just enough oxygen bits with more contractions in the same movement. this has been very popular with the celebrity trainers to give janet jackson those great abs

Chameleon · 10-13-2006, 08:04 AM

oookay... please do not have someone punch you during ab excercises OR hold your breath... big g is right about the ATP production... your muscles NEED oxygen and you NEED to breath... what you want to do is hold your ab muscle taut while doing crunches... keep everything nice and tight, breath out when you crunch up and in when you are moving your shoulders back to the ground... keep your abs tight during the entire excercise... do not let them relax at all until you are done with the full set... to keep all of the ab muscles tight imagine that your trying to get your belly button back to your spine, pull everything in and back and try to maintain that through the movement, but DO breath... by keeping everything tight you are fully activating all of the muscle fibers and will get the most benefit out of the movement

10-04-2006, 11:10 AM	#1
Shwa' Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 45 Reputation points: 5 No blog available. Qualifications Looking to Learn More I've Been to the Gym	Re: Abdomnial Development I've heard that holding your breath in during crunches helps keep the abbs tight and makes the workout a little bit more intense. Is that true?

10-04-2006, 05:49 PM	#2
Coug4482 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 13 Reputation points: 0 No blog available. Qualifications Avid Bodybuilding Reader Looking to Learn More	Re: Abdomnial Development that right there may possibly give your transverse abdominals more of a workout than the traditional crunch

10-12-2006, 03:42 AM	#3
motof Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 150 Reputation points: 17 No blog available. Qualifications Looking to Learn More I've Been to the Gym	Re: Holding Breath During Crunches I've always been taught to make sure to breathe and that it is very important. As I understand it, you want as much oxygen flow to the muscles as possible. I'd be interested to see the reasonings and science for this proposed idea. Got any sources? __________________ Train till you [[almost]] puke. Attn Personal Trainers & Nutritionists! Please check out / take my polls: Poll: Getting an Edge Over Other Trainers ----------- Poll: How many active clients do you have?

10-12-2006, 10:28 AM	#4
big g Member Moon Lander Champion! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 43 Reputation points: 63 No blog available. Qualifications Personal Trainer Avid Bodybuilding Reader Looking to Learn More I've Been to the Gym	Re: Holding Breath During Crunches holding your breath is not the exact improvement. yes motof you are right you want oxygen moving threw the muscles because lactic acid which is ATP's biproduct is toxic to your body. you want to circlulate that out of your body. (just in case you guys and gals dont know ATP is the energy the muscle uses). a better way to intensify ab cruches is to have someone lightly punch you in the abs which activates your reflex of contracting your abs. so this allows just enough oxygen bits with more contractions in the same movement. this has been very popular with the celebrity trainers to give janet jackson those great abs Last edited by big g : 10-12-2006 at 10:34 AM. Reason: adding more info

10-13-2006, 08:04 AM	#5
Chameleon Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 28 Reputation points: 48 No blog available. Qualifications Avid Bodybuilding Reader Transformationed I've Been to the Gym	Re: Holding Breath During Crunches oookay... please do not have someone punch you during ab excercises OR hold your breath... big g is right about the ATP production... your muscles NEED oxygen and you NEED to breath... what you want to do is hold your ab muscle taut while doing crunches... keep everything nice and tight, breath out when you crunch up and in when you are moving your shoulders back to the ground... keep your abs tight during the entire excercise... do not let them relax at all until you are done with the full set... to keep all of the ab muscles tight imagine that your trying to get your belly button back to your spine, pull everything in and back and try to maintain that through the movement, but DO breath... by keeping everything tight you are fully activating all of the muscle fibers and will get the most benefit out of the movement

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