Drilling to the Core

Let's talk about abs. Anyone who cares about their appearance wants to have a shredded six pack. I see people doing hours of cardio and dozens of crunches to attain this very goal. That's all well and good, but a strong midsection is not just for looks anymore.

Elite athletes and personal trainers agree that a strong core is the nucleus of our body's support and the generator of our motive power. The abdominals stabilize your spine. If you go half assed on your ab training all sorts of other workouts will suffer as a result. Especially if you plan on doing any squats!

Martial artists, soccer players, golfers and many others bring most of their power from the core. We did hundreds of crunches and other ab exercises during my soccer days. And kicking the stationary bag during my kickboxing workout crushes my obliques. And somewhere under John Daly's beer belly is a very powerful set of abdominal muscles. It can't all be attributed to his driver!

Ab training can also be a preventative measure against lower back pain and bad posture. Most of us sit at a desk all day and that can put a lot of pressure on the discs in your spine leading to chronic back pain and a "slouched" look. Plus, you need a stable core for almost anything you do from getting in and out of a car, putting groceries away and picking up your kids.

Lastly, to get that chiseled midsection, you gotta eat the right stuff. Doughnut Hoovers rarely have "Fight Club" style abs. So the low fat, high protein, high fiber diet you should be eating will not only help you acheive a great looking tummy but also protect your ticker.

The Workout:

Core
Woodchop 2 sets x10 reps (both sides)
Plank 2x 30 seconds
Swiss Ball Crunch 2x15

Lower Abs
Cable Reverse Crunch 2x15
Hanging Leg Raises 2x15

Obliques
One Arm Deadlift 2x10
Incline Crunch W/ Twist 2x10

In addition to these, plus a good diet and plenty of cardio, here are some supplements that are sure to help. Green Tree Extract (200-500 mgs), Fish Oil (1-3 grams with food), Carnitine 1-2 grams.

Drilling for beta....

I found a way to get lots of leverage in the oil patch without all the heavy lifting of hours of research and contant trades that are sure to be necessary in that volatile market. ProShares Ultra Oil and Gas (RIG) ETF . I'm not lazy, but since I work for a securities firm I am obliged to hold any security I buy for at least 60 days. This high Beta ETF is perfect if you want exposure to the oil markets without having to pick stock. It won't save you from the belly ache a coup d' etat in Western Africa or another bad hurricane season but it should be fun!