abs workout make my belly look inflated

S

sharona

Cathlete
a question for cathe but anyone who knows can answer.
i have noticed something strange is happening after I'm doing abs workout, my belly (which does not have six pack;( )feels and looks like a sucked in a balloon its inflated. i feel that its from the inside and no its not from eating because most of my workouts are done in the morning before breakfast..the last month we had the Pesach (for the jews)and i didn't workout i was busy cleaning (as if cleaning is not workout) and my tummy was flatter.
is that weired? should i see a doctor?
i love abs workout and i really don't want to quit doing them

thank u
sharona:)
 
Hello Sharona,
When you do Ab workouts are you focus on pulling in your stomach think belly button to spine, if your not that could cause the inflated feeling your talking about. Good Luck.
 
I've had that happen before and it seems like running is the only thing that actually helps me. I noticed it today doing ab work that my lower belly was popping out a little (okay, maybe it's actually a part of me) but usually it's not that way! It will be interesting to see what others say.
 
Years ago I was doing about 20 minutes of abs a day and my stomach stuck out and was hard and muscular. Since cutting down to 10 minutes approx. 5 days a week, my tummy is now flat.
maryann
 
Working the muscles in a lot of crunches trains them to be "poochy," and crunches are not an effective ab exercise. A lot of Cathe's ab routines, esp the older ones, are mostly variations on crunches. Doing movements that don't crunch the abs are far more effective in strengthing the core, and not producing that poochy-muscle effect. The Jan/Feb ACE magazine (Am Council on Exercise mag for its certified trainers)has an article on isolation movements, such as crunches, are not only ineffective but can be dangerous for some people. They can "replicate the pattern of movement that leads to injury."
 
This sounds alot like what Julie Tupler talks about in her Mummy Tummy book/DVD. She says that crunches and traditional ab workouts can lead to a diastasis if you don't already have one. If you do have one, crunches can actually make it worse! (Diastisis is the separation of the abdominal wall, usually due to pregnancy.) Her workout uses headlifts instead of crunches, and you just move your feet further away from your butt to increase the difficulty. She also does what she calls elevator exercises to repair the diastisis. If you do a search on the Fitmom's Forum, I have posted alot about the Tupler Technique there.


Tricia
 
Planks are an excellant, effective move.

The ACE article suggest a standing cable pulley crunch, a stability ball curl, and a push-up walk-out (from the push up position, walk your hands forward).

I do some BOSU work, actually for shoulder stabilization (I had rotator cuff surgery), and it has dramatically tightened up my core. I place it dome-side down, get in push up position with my hands gripping the edges, and tilt it forward and back as much as I can, then side to side, then circle it to the left and then to the right.

I also like stability ball tucks, pikes, plank variations, roll ups, and roll outs.

Those are some of what I feel work my core the best.

Best of luck.
 
Have you tried pilates? I find that this makes my abs very strong without making them look bulky. It is also great for your lower back and felxibility.

Take care,

Ady
 
Hi Sharona! I see you have been given a lot of advice here, however, I'll admit I do not agree with all of it.

Here is a copy of an ACE study, American Council On Exercise, which describes the top ab exercises which are most effective and also how to do them correctly. You will see quite a variety of crunches listed here.

http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/abstudy_top.aspx

Good luck with your ab training:)
 
Hello all!

Thanks Cathe for your response.

I find this forum topic to be interesting!

I have been working my abs about 4-5 days a week and I notice that I have an "inflated" look. I felt as though maybe I am getting a little heavier???

After reading about this, I realize I am not alone. What should I do?

Maybe I need to cut back on my fats and sodium.

:)


"Life is too short - Be the best you can be every single day!" :)
 
Now, don't get mad, but have you gained bodyfat? I just cannot imagine crunches, done correctly making your abdominal region larger!
I do know that some competitive bodybuilders that use steroids can get a "belly", not because they are fat, you can see the abs, but because of the drugs--these are the only distended, yet "cut" abs I have ever seen!



Have you been checked for yeast? Some people can get yeast infections in the digestive track, sounds gross I know, but its true. This happened to me years ago, my belly was so distended and painful--it was terrible.
Its basically when the bad bacteria take over in the intestines/colon and cause things like gas, constipation and bloating. Taking an acidophilus supplement and cutting out the sugar was the answer for me.
Talk to a naturopathic doctor about this,they will know more.
 
Hi Tneah!

No, you are not being mean by any means.

I THINK what it is ............. I need to cut back on my salt intake, and could ALWAYS cut back on fats! :)

My period is here, and I think that being bloated does not help here.

Thanks for your reply! :)


"Life is too short - Be the best you can be every single day!" :)
 
Cathe:

Could you please check the link. I got a screen saying it was not valid and could not find the article searching the ACE site.

Love ya,

Rhonda
 
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