Lower Abdominals

[isuretri]

I want to know what exercises you do to trim the jiggle off the lower abs. What do you like that works good? I love Cathe's STS Abs on the stability ball. I'm seeing a lot of definition in my abs but my lower abs are still in need of some help. Will it come with cardio? Just wanted to see what everyone thought about it.
Thanks!

 

[lrusso]

I started adding cardio a couple months ago. I was doing almost all weight training prior. To build the ab muscles I do any of Cathe's ab w/o's, the one I go to most often is Muscle Max. I had good ab definition also, except for the lower ab, which was covered up with a layer of fat. Since I added the cardio (about 20 to 30 min everyday) I have lost that lower ab flab and now I have a total 6-pack!!! Kettlebells are also great for your abs, it works the muscles and gives you cardio all in one. Linda

 

[KadetKim]

Oh Dear this is the bane of my life.

I think it largely depends on age and where you carry the fat on your body, with me it's all on the mid-section with nothing on my hips or thighs and definitely no junk in my trunk.

The muscle, nevertheless, is there, it's just hidden under too much jiggle which will never disappear completely unless I get down to about 115 lbs which is unrealistic. Other people can enjoy much better definition carrying more weight, IMO, it all depends on how it is apportioned.

I've battled it my whole life, aching for that flat stomach. I have to do abs daily, no respite, it's a non-stop battle.

I've got Ab Hits and mix that up with routines from Body Max 2 + Imax 2 (+ others). Plus I just got Core Max this week and did the first section last night even though I was shattered. These are all fab routines and keep it mixed up to avoid repetition. You haven't lived until you've tried 'walking planks' with Cathe around the living room!!!!!!!!

 

[cher54]

Ok KadetKim, I just gotta know...which workout features 'walking planks?' Feel like I'm missing out in some sort of demented way! So please, do tell!!!!

 

[kathryn]

Since that 'lower-ab jiggle' is a fat storage area, lowering body fat is more apt to decrease it than are ab or core exercises (though exercises like planks and "witches caldrons"--with forearms on a stability ball in a plank position---can help strengthen the transverse abdominals, which help hold in that area).

You probably do have good abdominal muscles, but they are hidden under a layer (or two) of fat.

Your diet, weight work that includes the larger muscle groups of the legs, back and chest (to burn more calories and stimulate growth hormone) and cardio is what can reduce fat.

As Kadekim indicated, if your body likes to store fat there in particular, you may end up looking 'too skinny' elsewhere if you get to the point where you have flat abs, and may have to learn to love a bit of a pooch.

 

[MidgetDogg]

If you have Butts & Guts, that has a brutal ab workout. I did it the other day after a month of STS Abs, and I could barely get through it. I've never had completely flat lower abs myself, no matter how long I work out. Then again, I've never completely committed to a really healthy diet and given up beer.

I'm giving it another shot now and have learned to love the clean eating, healthy foods (now a HUGE fan of quinoa!!!!). I haven't had a beer in over a month, though I'm more of a wine drinker in my middle age. I've scaled back on that too, to none or no more than a 4 oz glass most nights. Maybe once a week I'll have a couple glasses. But I adjust my calories on those days. If the abs don't get completely flat... who cares? Nobody can see them under my clothes and I'm not a bare-it-all in the summer kind of girl anyway.

LRusso - how do kettleballs work? I've seen them at the store, but didn't understand why I'd want them instead of dumbbells.