Q re: Oblique Work on Tamilee's "I Want Those.Abs"

[TarHeelMom]

Hi folks!

Question for you educated crowd re: Tamilee Webb's "I Want Those Abs" tape. I just got this one -- I've seen it get favorable reviews on VideoFitness for a long time -- and did the whole tape yesterday for the first time. Here's my question: in the second (more advanced) workout, she does standing side bends for the obliques using a weight in each hand -- looks like about 5 pounds. I did these with her and today my obliques are incredibly sore. And I do Cathe's abs regularly and haven't been sore in the abs for a long time.

I'm wondering if that soreness and that side-bend-with-a-weight exercise are good things. I've always thought that you did NOT want to use weights for any abdominal workout because they'll cause you to build muscle mass. I sure don't want more muscle mass or thickening in the obliques, especially because I am kind of boyishly built and never will have much of a waist, no matter what I do. I just want to keep toning them up.

I must say, aside from this one issue I think it's a pretty good tape. I have a bit of soreness in my lower abs today from the variety of exercises Tamilee performs for that area, where I could most definitely use some improvement. And has anyone noticed that in the second workout there's some music that's on one of our more recent Cathe tapes (can't recall which one)?

Anyhow, what do you folks think re: the obliques-with-weights issue?

http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport003.gif [FONT C OLOR=Blue]Kathy S.[/FONT]

 

[BayouGal]

I don't have an answer to whether it's a good idea to do weights for the abdominals, but I wanted to tell you that I experienced the same thing with that set of exercises with weights. I also was surprised at how sore I was the next day considering that I do Cathe's abs all the time too. It has been a couple of months since I have done that tape, but I enjoyed it because there are quite a variety of moves that are different than ones that Cathe does.

I don't have a problem with the waist area being too large, but I don't have very much definition in this area. I would think that you could use Tamilee's workouts occasionally for variety, but I think that as long as you alternated with other types of abdominal workouts, you would not have to worry about building significant muscle mass. Just my two cents.

Take it easy and enjoy the workouts! (Now I will have to pull that one out again!)

 

[bethmeira]

I use to get soar doing that move on Tamilee's tape. After a few times of doing the tape, I stopped being soar so I would think you would too. I don't think using weights for obliques is a bad thing. But that is just my opinion.

Beth

 

[Francine]

Hi Kathy! The reason that your abs are sore is because your are working them from a different angle! They will adjust to this new style of training ! Adding any form of resistance will make your muscles expand to an extent!We all respond differently ! My advice is that 5lbs is a proper weight to tone and not bulk-- have fun with this new tape and just don't do it consecutively and often during the week(ex 3xs a week be fine!) I have to tell you a quick story of doing abs with weights-- I too was concerned with this when I felt like my abs were thicker ! I was on an ab routine for 3 days a week consisting of weighted side bends,planks and also I'd put a weight plate on my belly for lower leg lifts --this was a program that I have been doing for years, never having a problem always happy with my results! I shake my ab routines up really well! I do all varieties imaginable for 3 weeks then totally switch up--BUT this time I was stumped--Everything was in check but I didn't like the look I was getting! Something was different! The dr thought I was nuts since all my data was the same--but I "felt" not right! It turned out that the birth control pill that I started to take was freaking my hormones out since my body was not use to all the progesterone! They called it a fake pregnancy reaction --weird huh? Well after 4 months on it--I went off-- tried my routine 2 months later for 3 weeks again and no bulk--it was all a hormone problems! Just wanted to share that with you -those hormones are lil buggers---I'm in total sync with my body and I was soo tired of the dr saying you'll adjust-give it time--yeah right--- my body wanted no parts of it-- this pill is not for me--CYA--- not to bash drs but sometimes they are just not hearing us! There's only "one" me and plenty other drs/pills to choose from! So in closing--Listening to your body is the golden rule! Take care!Your friend in fitness~~Francine