? about abs
- Thread starter ckanuckel
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ldy_solana
Cathlete
not cathe but suggestions i have gotten in the past from others is
1-make sure you do cardio to burn over all fat, you may have a six pack but some fat may be covering your progress
2-make sure form is proper and that every rep is strong. "make every single move count"
3-give it time, sometimes after babies our skin stretches and it takes time to get back to normal so that may hinder your results as well
4-give your abs rest, they are just like any other muscle. don't work them hard everyday without proper rest. 2-3x a week should be good(this could be different for everybody, you have to play with it to see what works for you)
5-make sure you work lower back to, helping proper posture will help you stand up straighter and give the appearence of flatter abs
the last one is myself, i have some defintion in my abs but when i slouch just a bit i lose it. not to mention doing harm to my back. these are just suggestions i have gotten myself and just wanted to pass along.
kassia
When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey
1-make sure you do cardio to burn over all fat, you may have a six pack but some fat may be covering your progress
2-make sure form is proper and that every rep is strong. "make every single move count"
3-give it time, sometimes after babies our skin stretches and it takes time to get back to normal so that may hinder your results as well
4-give your abs rest, they are just like any other muscle. don't work them hard everyday without proper rest. 2-3x a week should be good(this could be different for everybody, you have to play with it to see what works for you)
5-make sure you work lower back to, helping proper posture will help you stand up straighter and give the appearence of flatter abs
the last one is myself, i have some defintion in my abs but when i slouch just a bit i lose it. not to mention doing harm to my back. these are just suggestions i have gotten myself and just wanted to pass along.
kassia
When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey
kathryn
Cathlete
There is a saying that abs are made in the kitchen. In addition to the good advice you've gotten already (especially doing cardio to burn overall fat...and I'd add, doing large-muscle weight training to also burn more fat) you have to look at your energy input (calories) vs. energy output (exercise) and make sure that you have more going out than coming in!
Also, some people carry more weight in their abs than others, and may never be able to get to the body fat percentage that makes a 6-pack show without other parts of their body looking "too thin." Keep in mind that you may be choosing a body type as a role model that is not your body type, and will be destined for disappointment because it may not be attainable for you.
Also, some people carry more weight in their abs than others, and may never be able to get to the body fat percentage that makes a 6-pack show without other parts of their body looking "too thin." Keep in mind that you may be choosing a body type as a role model that is not your body type, and will be destined for disappointment because it may not be attainable for you.
Thanks for the advice. I do actually have a low body fat % and I do some form of cardio everyday. I also do not eat anything fattening and no sugar. My stomach is flat and I do have definition, but more like a 4 pack:7 Maybe you're right and I just not destined to have to 6 pack I'd love to have.
Thanks again
Thanks again
kathryn
Cathlete
>Than My stomach is flat and I do
>have definition, but more like a 4 pack:7
If you have flat abs with some definition, maybe you need to do some weighted ab work to get the muscle to pop (not a look I'm going for, but it's nice that we can tailor our workouts to go for that look or not). The six-packk "bulges" are actually developped muscle (which you can most clearly see on some cover models for "Muscle and Fitness" who have low body fat AND developped muscle). Just don't use much weight for oblique work, as it can make the waist thick, which is a look nobody wants!
>have definition, but more like a 4 pack:7
If you have flat abs with some definition, maybe you need to do some weighted ab work to get the muscle to pop (not a look I'm going for, but it's nice that we can tailor our workouts to go for that look or not). The six-packk "bulges" are actually developped muscle (which you can most clearly see on some cover models for "Muscle and Fitness" who have low body fat AND developped muscle). Just don't use much weight for oblique work, as it can make the waist thick, which is a look nobody wants!
I'm in a similar situation; I have a "4 pack", starting from the top to mid section, but not on the lower portion of my abs. My abs have always been a muscle that reacts well to exercise, so I think I have the potential there. (Which all my muscles reacted that way!) The key for me I think is to continue to try to find exercises that work the lower portion. I don't feel like I get enough of that in overall.
kathryn
Cathlete
>I've always wondered, can doing too much oblique work without
>weights create a thick waist?
>
>Amy
Everybody is different, and I suppose if you gain muscle easily, even too much unweighted oblique work can make the area thick. But that usually happens with lower reps and added weight.
>weights create a thick waist?
>
>Amy
Everybody is different, and I suppose if you gain muscle easily, even too much unweighted oblique work can make the area thick. But that usually happens with lower reps and added weight.