Ab question...getting too "thick"

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Imafitnessfreak

Cathlete
I have been working my abs 6 days a week. Since I have been eating more efficiently, I am gaining a lot of muscle, even in my abs. Now they seem too thick when viewed from the side. From the front, I have no shape at all (and I hate it). I go from ribs to abs to hips, straight line. No hour glass on this girl! My hips are 32 inches and my waist is 25 inches...not a big difference!

Any suggestions? Should I stop ab work altogether for a little while or just obliques? HELP! All comments welcomed! Thanks so much!
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

I'm with ya! I am built similiar to you. My waist is about 24-25 inches, and my hips are 34inches. So, I have wider hips than you do, but it sounds like we are built somewhat alike.

I do lots of abs. I don't really think mine have gotten bigger. To be honest, think about it... a 24 or 25 inch waist is not very big. If you get it much smaller than that, you'll never find any clothes to fit!

I'm not sure what you mean about them looking thick when viewed from the side. I would say mine look more slender when viewed from the side. How tall are you?
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

Your abs don't sound very big, as a matter of fact your abs aren't big. It sounds as though everything is how it should be. I suppose it's a personal thing if you think they are becoming too thick, but it just doesn't sound like it. Alot of women would kill for your abs.
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

Maybe I should quit looking at all the Victoria Secret catalogs I get in the mail. I get about 5 a week! They know a sucker when they see one!

I thought I saw someone advise someone else on widdling the waist by taking an "ab break". I was hoping my post would "draw out the jack".:) ;) ;)
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

Couple of things:

#1, you could be working your abs too often. There is a lot of controversy about how often you should work your abdominal muscles; IMHO they are like any other muscle group and need rest. And you can gain muscle mass in the abdominal area, mass that doesn't really lend itself to abdominal strength and endurance, so I think you should cut out at least one ab session per week and focus on making your remaining sessions more productive with increased overload.

#2, I think you need to post here what you mean by "working my abs". It could be that there is an imbalance in the KIND of ab training you're doing. There's been kind of a seismic shift in the fitness industry from "working the abs" to "training the core", which means you are paying attention to ALL of the trunk muscles front AND back, and are doing good combinations of traditional spinal-flexion-oriented work AND core stabilization work with planks (prone, supine and side) and with long-lever work where the trunk muscles are recruited simply to keep the back from hyper-extending.

Do post here what your current routines are, and I'd bet you'd get some good suggestions as to how to tweak your program for health AND aesthetics.

Can you tell my morning espresso is kicking in?

A-Jock
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

I work my ABs everyday when I can, sometimes I just have to take a break and do other things....... but I went for a week without working my abs and didn't like it..... when you have a small pooch anyway from child bearing, its not real noticeable but it is noticable to me.... so I work them specially the lower abs....
There is alot of controversy about this, I just say do what feels right to you............. Rhonda:7
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

The problem could be your obliques--I stopped working them years ago b/c I'm thick-waisted to begin with (27" waist, 33" hips) & oblique exercises just made things worse. Just recently started doing them again, but only once a week, 4 sets of 25 side raises w/very light weight.

I work my abs twice a week w/pretty heavy weights & have never had a thickness problem w/my routine.
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

Hi Maximus... I also seem to be thick waisted, can't seem to get it past 26 inches so far ... so I think I will try and take your advice where obliques are concerned, although I haven't noticed any thickness... and the 26 is the high waist, I am still working on my mid waist down closer to the navelx( .. that is a few inches thicker but working on it :p ... I am 45, are you in your 40's yet? ... thanks Rhonda:7
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

wow, A-Jock... I'm doing good to remember my own NAME right now. Maybe I should go get me some espresso... maybe several espressos.
 
RE: Ab question...getting too

Nope, I've got 3 years to go! :p But I look & feel better now than I did when I was 25, so I'm hoping my 40s will be even better than my 30s LOL. That's what I hear anyway.

Anyway, I have to diet seriously to keep my waist at a managable measurement. The middle is the first place I gain weight, & of course I couldn't gain in my rear end if my life depended on it. Plus forget about buying clothes--they're all made for women w/small waists & large hips. x(
 
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