Is core work making us thick in the middle?

C

charlotteyochem

Cathlete
Ladies:

Do any of you feel like all the new focus on "core work," involving much work to the sides is making you thicker around the middle? And do any of you old Firmies remember the "20 Questions About Fitness" where they showed the gal with a weight in each hand doing tick tocks to each side - the message was that such movements would thicken your waist. I'm sure that my waist is thicker after so much more core work and absolutely positive it has nothing to do with wine.:p :+ (Lowering my voice now...) I also think that Cathe's waist was slimmer in the older tapes before all this emphasis on core work. What do you think?? I have started to skip the hardcore side work.
 
Yes, it seems so. I have also noticed this. We all have less-defined waists than we used to with the focus on core rather than abs. Question is: which do we value more and why?

Clare
 
>Yes, it seems so. I have also noticed this. We all have
>less-defined waists than we used to with the focus on core
>rather than abs. Question is: which do we value more and
>why?
>
>Clare

just makes me feel stronger,but i really don't see my waist getting bigger,only when i eat to much anyway LOL.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
i have very prominent obliques.....


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cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!
 
I think it's more likely to happen with weighted oblique work (like the move the Firm showed). I don't see how things like planks and unweighted twists would make the waist thick.
 
Yes, I remember it well and it really stuck with me. I avoid most oblique work. I guess the Firm really brainwashed me.
-Nancy
 
Wellllll! I am not sure. I do notice more definition. I don't think my waist size is larger as I still wear the same size clothes. I do remember the old Firm 20 questions. I have read the same thing since. I still do not go as heavy on obliques as I do upper and lower abdominal area. I guess one could measure and as long as you are not growing elsewhere too then that might be an indicater. I just wait worrying about it and go by what I see when I workout. If you feel like you are thicker quit doing weighted obliques. Experiment and give it time.
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Wellllll! I am not sure. I do notice more definition. I don't think my waist size is larger as I still wear the same size clothes. I do remember the old Firm 20 questions. I have read the same thing since. I still do not go as heavy on obliques as I do upper and lower abdominal area. I guess one could measure and as long as you are not growing elsewhere too then that might be an indicater. I just wait worrying about it and go by what I see when I workout. If you feel like you are thicker quit doing weighted obliques. Experiment and give it time.
http://wd.1ww.us
http://1ww.us/3.gif
 
I'm not "thick in the middle" but have always had a boy's midsection, straight with slim hips, so I don't avoid any core/ab work.
 
I love all ab work and do not avoid any of it. I slacked off on my ab work for a while and noticed I was getting flabbier. If I had to choose between thick and firm or thin and flabby, I choose thick and firm. :7 I'll be 44 next month and I need all the help I can get in that section.
 
I don't think so. Back in the early-mid 90's I was a fitness instructor and personal trainer and I did and taught many of the sames moves that are done in "core" work today. I didn't notice my waist getting thicker then, and I don't now - in fact my waist has gotten smaller and more defined since I've been doing Cathe's core work regularly. Not as small as it was 10 years ago:p! Getting close, though.

I do think that having had a child has made my entire mid-section a bit wider - your lower ribs spread to accomodate the pregnancy, and that can make it seem like your waist is broader. There is actually a pregnancy guru here in London that sells a special corset garment for post-partum that is supposed to help squeeze the lower ribcage back in to help regain a pre-pregnancy figure. A lot of the stars are said to have used it and swear by it (according to the mags.)

Anyway, maybe the reason Cathe's waist looks smaller in the earlier videos is because they were filmed before she had her children. She's a tiny little thing, and I'm sure her body had to make some accomodations to carry full-term babies.
 
Please keep in mind as women age they loose the hour glass shape. It is part of our aging process. personally I miss my narrow waist:(
 
My waist has gotten a bit thicker but I attribute that to middle age and genetics. But, at the same time, I have a lot of muscle definition in my core and in my obliques. I had a 24" waist at age 25, 25" waist at 35, a 26" waist at 45 and now a 26.5" waist at 51. So, I do attribute it to the aging process as well as weighted ab work.

I like the way my abs and obliques look using weighted work so I'm not going to stop :)
 
>I think it's more likely to happen with weighted oblique work
>(like the move the Firm showed). I don't see how things like
>planks and unweighted twists would make the waist thick.

That's the bottom line. I work abs with weights but I rarely work obliques with weights--the only time I do is when I do sec. 3 of Core Max. I have a tendency to be thick waisted anyway so I only work obliques once a week, while I do abs 2-3 times a week.
 
I don't think so at all, and it really doesn't make any sense, unless you are doing heavy weight work for your ab work (which none of Cathe's ab routines do). My obliques are much more defined now, but that's a good thing! I'm not any "thicker" or bigger by any means, just have more definition and "cuts" all over.

I think Cathe and crew look much better now than in the older tapes. She/they had no definition at all back then. Maybe that's why it may appear her abs were smaller? Because she was less defined elsewhere?

m.
 
I have actually noticed the exact opposite. To the point that I can't find jeans that fit me properly. In order to fit my thighs and bulbous behind, they are much too big in the waist area.

My mid-section is more hourglass shaped now than it has ever been and my obliques are very defined. But, still no six-pack. My obliques are getting alot more attention I guess.
 
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