Ab Exercises?

Hello, I need some advice. My body is where I want it to be everywhere except my abs! I am at my weight goal, I do cardio often (4 times per week and really don't have time for more), work my abs with several conventional exercises (crunches, leg lifts, exercise ball) as well as yoga and pilates. I keep losing inches and pounds but not out of my stomach! It isn't super flabby, just not where I want it to be. Now I know we can't "spot reduce" so I'm wondernig if anyone has any ideas? I've been working really hard at it and I've become frustrated! Help!

Fri. Dec 8, 1:11pm

I know this isn't what you want to hear... ...but I have had the same problem, and my ultimate solution has been learning to live with it. I just figure that not all of us have the genetics to be VS models AND Nobel Prize-winners, so I'll concentrate my efforts on the latter. ;-)

Friday, December 8, 2006, 1:31 PM

I've read that getting abs is all about your diet - eating almost *no* fat and lots of protein.

That's why I think I struggle with it - I like to indulge in sweets too often (almost daily), and while I can easily work it into my calorie allotment, it does increase my fat intake. I think I would make real progress if I could learn not to give in to my sweet tooth quite as often.

Friday, December 8, 2006, 1:51 PM

You need to choose a form of cardio where you have to seriously engage your core/ab muscles. The only one I can think of is swimming, especially the backstroke -- you need to use your stomach muscles to keep your body in the right position so that you don't sink. Awesome for getting rid of back/lovehandle fat too. I'm sure there are other examples, but I can't think of any right now.

Friday, December 8, 2006, 2:32 PM

I have worked wonders with my abs and I don't do anything except maintain the most perfect posture I can - belly button pulled towards spine, shoulders back and down and head aligned with body. I do this ALL the time - when I walk, sit, drive, work out, etc... The only time those ab muscles aren't tight is when I sleep. The great this is that when I work out (and I do cardio 5x a week plus misc activity on weekends) they get a work out just because I keep the abs engaged during activity. I look taller, more slender and boy as the weight comes off they are starting to show their lovely shape. I still have a couple of little love handles, but the front looks pretty good if I do say so - It's a waaaay flatter stomach than I used to have.

I learned most of my good posture tips from a physical therapist and I initially started out strengthening my abs with pilates (which could easily have substituted for the physical therapist), but have found that just maintaining my posture and keeping the abs engaged during my daily activity are enough to keep them strong and flat. Best wishes!

Friday, December 8, 2006, 2:48 PM

OP here,
thank you so much for all the suggestions! Keep em coming if anyone has more too add! And last poster, I for sure need to be more concious of my posture, thank you for the reminder! =)

Friday, December 8, 2006, 3:02 PM

if you still have fat on your stomach it means you have to decrease your body fat. you should increase your lean muscle mass... excess dieting makes you fatter cause you basically loose lean tissue more than fat.

you can do all ab excercises of the world, you can have hard muscles and stand 200lbs punches in your stomach, if you still have adipose tissue on your belly then forget the 6 pack. also excessive weight loss over a short period WILL ALWAYS leave loose skin that will hide the abs.

FireMyst @ Hooligans

Friday, December 8, 2006, 3:38 PM

Since you have reached your target weight but still have fat on your stomach, you need to work on your diet now. By eating right, your body will distribute the fat throughout your body instead of placing it all in the places you don't want it. The result is you can weigh the same but look great! So for whatever diet you like, just be sure to avoid snacking too much and get plenty to eat...but good stuff!

Sunday, December 10, 2006, 12:32 PM

what do you mean by your abs aren't what you want? Are they too flabby, is your waist simply too wide, do you not have a six pack, what exactly is the issue? How narrow your waist can get depends on bone structure- I for one can't really get lower than 28" on my waist unless I remove a rib. Too flabby- it's an issue that might simply mean you got to lower your bf%. No six pack? Have to really focus on the strength training doing not so conventional things- like using weights on crunches, using a roman chair or hyperextension, etc.

And for the record, I'm a swimmer, but haven't found that helps my abs at all. Keeping proper posture- ESP while running, has helped my abs.

Monday, December 11, 2006, 1:00 PM

I have found that Winsor Ab Pilates performs miracles! But if you try and try and to no avail and have lowered your body fat and your weight -- it might just be genetic and the only way to fix that is a tummy tuck.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 10:35 AM

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