Exclusive Interview with Ab Doer Twist Inventor, John Abdo
How did you get involved in fitness?
I began my fitness career as a youngster. My father always had a weight room in our home and I admired his strength and wanted to be like him one day. As I began to augment my body through what my father taught me; with old-fashion techniques back then, I also strove to advance my knowledge and understanding of what was actually happening to me on the inside of my body. Voluntarily subjecting the body to stress; like in exercise, and realizing positive benefits was fascinating to me, and I committed my life to fitness and self-betterment.
Over the decades, I studied multiple aspects of health, anatomy, fitness, human performance, psychology and nutrition, and have been able to successfully utilize this knowledge, along with some of my own creations, in my current career. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help people in the way I am capable. Fitness, healthy eating, and a positive/realistic mindset are the greatest products on the planet.
What was the inspiration for the Ab-Doer?
There are multiple inspirations for inventing the AB-DOer. I have to admit though that the most obvious motivator was that conventional abdominal training methods were simply not working for me, and I discovered those techniques were littered with flaws. After a lot of disappointment, I eventually figured out that conventional abdominal training methods were/are based on anaerobic principles. I was increasing my midsection size, not reducing it, as the conventional methods were hypertrophying (enlarging) the tissues of my waistline. Crunches, sit-ups, knee and leg lifts, dumbbell side bends, side sit-ups off of the hyper-benches, and a host of others, place enormous loads (or resistance) to the abdominal and midsection muscles. And we all know that if you subject a muscle to a load, and do so repetitiously and consistently, the body will shift to an anabolic phase and enlarge the tissues to compensate for the increase in demand for strength.
Here’s the reason, during the abdominal/midsection exercises mentioned above, the applicant is lifting a lot of weight, even though most of it is their own bodyweight. For instance, in a regular bodyweight-only crunch, the applicant is lifting the bones and muscles of their head (which, on average, weighs about 12 pounds), ribcage, arms, shoulders, chest and upper back. All of these together are huge loads to place onto the abdominal muscles which we want to tone down but the result is the opposite.
The technology I developed throws a curveball at the industry. Instead of high-resistance or heavy loads for the abdominals I incorporate a Low Resistance Factor™, a title I (obviously) coined. What LRF basically means is that there’s no pain but all gain specifically to the abdominal region. The muscles receive sufficient stimulus to strengthen, tone and become energized but the resistance these muscles are subjected to is low enough to prevent hypertrophy, or tissue enlargement.
So in spite of the fact that people say “I felt that” immediately after doing a set crunches what they’re actually feeling is the wrong sensation these muscle need to stimulate the benefits they’re actually striving for.
If you want to bulk up your arms, deltoids, thighs and pecs, then lift heavy weights. The midsection is the region of the body we need to specifically train to get smaller, and the Low Resistance Factor principle technology incorporated into The AB-DOer makes exercising easier, less stressful and amazingly productive.
Why do you think Ab-Doer has stuck around when so many other ab exercisers have come and gone?
The obvious reason for AB-DOers’ success is that it works. Millions of people from around the world are using this technology, and have been doing so since 1997. I still get emails today from people who purchased the original AB-DOer over 12 years ago. Most of these ‘doers’ are asking for DVD copies of the routines to replace their worn out VHS copies (the format of those ancient times).
The other reason, is the unique internal approach to fat loss and body shaping that’s incorporated into AB-DOers’ design. Conventional abdominal training methods focus largely on losing fat, or an outside approach. However, The AB-DOer’s primary focus is to condition all of tissues that support and move the entire spinal column. This region of the body houses our central nervous system, the power source of our energy that circulates throughout our body. When the midsection is weak, out of balance, out of alignment, compressed or over-developed, chances are there’s interruptions of nerve signals from brain to the muscles and into the internal organs, and likely reason why muscles, and fat burning, don’t respond to conventional methods. However, when the spinal column is de-compressed, or relieved of pressure, and made flexible, its tissues (i.e., muscles, tendons and ligaments) retain their integrity. The boney structure of our spinal columns are then in better alignment so the nervous system can effectively communicate with our internal organs and our muscles, much of which is imperative for boosting overall metabolism which helps to yield fat loss even when one is not exercising.
For someone who has neck and back issues, how important is it to have a strong core?
As mentioned in the previous answer, when the spine becomes compressed or sways away from its natural alignment, pressure is placed onto the nerves that stem outward from the spinal column causing pain and discomfort to the receiving tissues and organs. Having a strong core; which basically refers to the areas completely surrounding the spine, allows the body to maintain its natural alignment that permits efficient nerve flow and circulation. The analogy I use is liken to that of a radio tower; envision a radio tower that stands hundreds of feet erect. What gives that tower its support, balance and structural integrity is a series of cables that surround that tower 360º at just enough tension that all cables compliment one another, but never compete with each other. These cables, or the tissues that surround our spine, is what gives the tower its vertical alignment. However, if you loosen up, or sever, just one of those cables the tower mal-aligns itself to the imbalance and leans out of alignment, creating an obvious imbalance.
By simply sitting in The AB-DOer and moving your body in the multiple directions you are strengthening all of the muscles (i.e., cables) that support and hold your entire spinal column in its natural postural alignment while exercising all of the surrounding tissues. When you have a healthy posture your energy flows freely throughout your body and you’re energized all day long.
Anything new on the horizon?
Yes! I have so many other services and ambitions that educate and motivate people, mostly through my articles, books, lectures and mentoring. I recently finished writing a book entitled Ultimate Sexual health & Performance™ which delves into the hormonal aspect of health and how the brain, tissues and organs respond to thought and lifestyle habits. Living a healthy lifestyle requires a level of understanding but, more importantly, it requires patience and discipline to remain committed to develop healthy living habits. I spend more time now keeping people motivated and on track as all they need guidance and encouragement. Everybody has the potential to improve. I enjoy assisted people achieving their goals.
