How do I use an Exercise Wheel?

[Wrong Robot]

For sit-ups, you are supposed to anchor your feet. Crunches do not require this. Crunches are better for your abs than sit-ups. I would recommend doing crunches instead.

As far as working your abs everyday. This is just what I have heard from a couple sources. It doesn't make that much sense, since no other muscle works this way. Your abs are likely to feel sore because they are not in great shape and you are not used to working them. Your arms are likely to feel fine because you are not working them to your limit. All workout relies on consistently pushing your limits. Shrug, it's a lot of stuff, I don't claim to be an expert. I have somehow managed to pick up a fair amount of knowledge and wisdom over the years, some of it I know is accurate, some of it is maybe a little more dicey. I recommend researching on your own as much as possible.

 

[Yorkiebassist]

For sit-ups, you are supposed to anchor your feet. Crunches do not require this. Crunches are better for your abs than sit-ups. I would recommend doing crunches instead.

As far as working your abs everyday. This is just what I have heard from a couple sources. It doesn't make that much sense, since no other muscle works this way. Your abs are likely to feel sore because they are not in great shape and you are not used to working them. Your arms are likely to feel fine because you are not working them to your limit. All workout relies on consistently pushing your limits. Shrug, it's a lot of stuff, I don't claim to be an expert. I have somehow managed to pick up a fair amount of knowledge and wisdom over the years, some of it I know is accurate, some of it is maybe a little more dicey. I recommend researching on your own as much as possible.

Should I push my arms harder? I'm currently using a 15lb(around 7kg) weight, 30 repitions on each arm, up to 5 times(depending on how I'm feeling). Is that enough?

 

[Groove Theory]

I got this thing today, but I'm confused as to how you use it; it's basically a bar with wheels on it, and you're meant to lean forwards with it and pull it back to tone your abdominal muscles, but I don't know what posture I should take to use it. ie. should I be crouched on the balls of my feets, or just on my knees? Any help would be great I'm stuck.

hey bro, I think this will help you out...
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.php?MainMuscle=Abdominals

scroll down to "Ab roller" its second in line. they have a good description (and video) of how to properly use it. I also have one and it works great. I would recommend doing it from a kneeling position (kneel on a folded towel or something for padding if you need to)...

this is a video of the only guy I've seen doing the wheel from a standing position (about 1:39 into the video), so you can work your way to that point but I definantly wouldn't start there, its a surprisingly difficult but effective exercise from any position.

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[Vorago]

Well, it's best not go that far with the wheel the first time as that woman does, if you do that you'll go flat on your face

 

[Groove Theory]

Well, it's best not go that far with the wheel the first time as that woman does, if you do that you'll go flat on your face

+1

the idea is to keep your back ridged and straight, and to go down as far as you personally are able to, without touching the ground. no matter how far you are able to go you should be able to feel your abdominals stretch going down and contract coming up. then as you build up the strength and stability, work towards going a little farther. I'd also NOT recommend doing it every day, just like every other group of skeletal muscle, the abs need time to recover after working them. proper nutrition will speed up the recovery time, but I still wouldn't recommend working your abs (with the wheel or otherwise) more frequently than once, every other day at the most.

and as with any exercise, its always best to practice good form first and foremost to prevent injury. it'd suck to throw your back out and have to miss a gig or something.

 

[Yorkiebassist]

Thanks for that. The thing is, when I'm kneeling I can't feel it doing anything to any muscles except my arms, but when I stand(how the guy in the second video did it) I can feel it working, but I can't do it for more than a minute because it puts so much pressure on my arms I fall on my face.

 

[Yorkiebassist]

Just discovered it's broken anyhow(the plastic 'tyre' bit on the wheel has snapped). The standing exercise is much mroe effective than the kneeling one, just with the standing one I have to have something infront of me to stop me sliding forward and having an intimate meeting with the floor.