Ab question for Fitness Freak

[happy mom of 3]

Hi Debbie,

I just realized that I have a diastasis recti from having 3 kids in 3.5 years, so all this time of doing ab exercises, I have actually made my situation worse. I was told that I should only do transverse ab exercises and planks. Which transverse ab exercises do you think work the best? Do you know if any of Cathe's dvd's have ab exercises for the transverse abdominals?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Nicole

 

[Fitnessfreak366]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here, but the transverse abdominals is also known as the lower abdominals. They are placed right below the oblique muscles.

Any type of reverse crunch will work this muscle. Also, I believe the ab work Cathe does in the 4DS workouts where you are on your back and you place your knees to one side and raise your upper body straight up will work those muscles as well. You need to do that with both sides.

Planks are excellent to work the entire ab region. I highly recommend doing planks whenever you do ab work.

Also, work you ab muscles about 2 days a week. That is plenty.

 

[happy mom of 3]

Thanks. I'll keep doing planks and check out the ab work in 4DS. I just finished the 4DS rotation, but when doing the ab work, never really focused on which part of the abs I was working.

 

[Fitnessfreak366]

Focus is the key to ab work. You can't just go through the motions. Think about what you are doing and which muscle area you are working. You'll be amazed at the results. You should do that with every muscle you train.

 

[Jennifit]

Great advice already given...I will add to really focus on your belly button touch your spine on every lift!! That really helped me with Diastatis!

 

[stepitup]

Hi Jennifit,

I've heard this before, trying to get your belly button to touch your spine. I don't suffer from diastis, but am trying to lose belly bulge which has hung on since my 2nd daughter's birth 1-1/2 years ago. I decided to really try to work my abs hard for the next couple of months and am concerned about "building out" my stomache. Have you heard of this before? Also, do you pull your belly button to your spine with every ab excercise?

Thx - Trish