The Core of the Matter

Whenever a celebrity has a baby and seems to be back in her size 0 jeans a month later, she says it was Pilates. Well, Pilates isn’t magic, but it is extremely effective at core control. What on earth is the core? Your core consists of your abdominal muscles and their corresponding lower back muscles, and Pilates is a body conditioning routine that centers on developing and strengthening that core. Core workouts actually end up strengthening much more than your tummy and back; with regular practice you’ll gain strength in muscle groups including the legs, arms, hips, and back. While Pilates itself is an effective workout, it’s not the only way to develop your core, and at Fitness Expo we carry a variety of core development trainers. We have three different versions of the Ab Coaster, the 750, the CS1500, and the CS3000. The 750 is Ab Coaster’s top-of-the-line model for home use; it’s got capacity for up to 20 lbs. of weights and a digital counter so you can torture yourself crunch by crunch till you hit your target. The CS1500 holds a 400-lb. person (the 750 can hold up to 300 lbs.) and up to 30 lbs. of …