Abs & Genetics

[pebblesus]

Hi Cathe,
I have been full of questions lately
Anyway I was wondering about the core section..
I am my ideal weight and very muscular (and gaining
My issue is my abs. I have a little fat pouch right under my bellybutton. It has been there as long as I can remember (different sizes to match my different weights). It was huge when I was entering my early teens and then smaller when I lost weight durring my mid teens.
Right now it's still there of course. I can be pretty lean and look great but as soon as I eat my stomache can bloat out like Homer Simpson!
No matter how lean I get (ive tried spending a couple weeks to see how lean I actually CAN get-- just for fun) I can't seem to get rid of it! I also have a little crease under it that won't go away either! I've never had kids and Ive only ever been 20 lbs overweight. Im young, so I don't understand what THAT is all about.. but the pouch!
I have high hips (im guessing) so I also have "love handle" looking things that don't go way no matter what my weight.
Ive come to except that its probably my genetics and I will most likely never have the flat, tight abs that YOU have.
NONETHELESS, my question for advice from you is what to do at this point?
Should I be doing ab training with weights or should I be doing endurance and lighter exercises for it? I have always trained my core modestly in the past, but recently I have started doing one day of more intense core training with weights (where applicable), and then one or two days of light, standing ab work, hoping it will help to target the thicker areas Id like to rid of.

Just to note, Im have not been overweight in a couple years-- I actually look pretty good and I really have no major complaints. Ive done a lot the past few years with what I have I just want to know if there is something for this area that I haven't tried that migh help any or if it's genetics that are responsible and the leanest ive been in the past is about the best Ill be able to do for the problem area?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[jennifermaria]

Wow, you could have described my ab area! This is definitely my "problem area." Like you, I've never had kids, so I can only imagine how tough it'll be to get abs of steel after I have them someday LOL.

I'll be interested to see Cathe's response to this topic--hopefully you and I can get our abs in tip top shape!

 

[NY25]

That's genetics. Technically, it's there to allow for child-bearing. That's where the baby grows. I've got it, too. Actually, I think it's more common to have it, to some degree, than to not. By the way, most men I know like that - a concave stomach, not so much. So, be happy you have it!!

 

[tneah]

HA! Me too, I have those fatty things right above my hipbones, which flucuate from too fleshy to not as fleshy, but still there. I have no muffin top back fat, just those things that sit on my hipbones...gross. I even asked a plastic surgeon about them..he sent me scurrying home telling me he would not lipo me!

 

[pebblesus]

Hmm.. well Im not having any kids and I don't wish to be attractive to men So now what lol?

I have the "muffin top" (never thought of it that way)-- even though it doesn't appear to be flabby fat-- Im in the best shape you can be (next to Cathe that is

Yeah, Im actually shaped like my dad.

I saw on a show "10 Years Younger" they did a "procedure" where they took an ultra sound looking device and rubbed it around a guys love handle area. Took but minutes. It was spossed to break up fat cell deposits (or something). No surgery or any cutting like lipo-- seemed like a great thing for *small* problem areas.. wish I knew what it was :T