Stomach Bulge - HELP!!!

N

Nightbird

Member
Dear Cathe,

Before I ask my question, Cathe, I would like to take a moment to let you know that I wish you healthy recovey, because I know myself how it feels not to able to workout and perform daily activities. I posted a succes story about a week ago, and you truly are a matriarch to me. You got me in great shape and walking again.

My question is about the bulge in my lower abs. I am pretty solid, with terrific muscle scupting, but my lower abs look like a pouch on kangaroo. With something in it.

My diet is healthy, and I include 2 protein shakes a day, flax seed, and greens. I eat chicken and fish, and must have that beef once in a while.

Is it my diet? I do one of your 3 Core Max workouts daily - many times doing all 3 in sequence. I have been doing this for 6 months.

Can you PLEASE help me!!! You had a pregnancy that you bounced back from so lovely, and you are very beautiful, by the way - and was there any particuar set of exercises that helped more? I workout to daily with your workouts, and do your Stretch Max series and yoga at night to maintain optimum flexibility. Out of all this, I would think the results would be greater and faster.

What can I do? i anxiously awai your response.

Lots of Love!!!
Thank you, as always, Cathe!!!
 
Hi Nightbird! Because Cathe hasn't answered you yet I'll take a stab at it. Are you doing any strength training? I only noticed in your post that your working your abs every day as well stretching & yoga. Working your abs every day is unnecessary. You should IMO only do ab workouts 3-4x a week. How often do you do cardio & what type? You should do at least 2x a week of intense bursts of cardio & the other 2 should be steady state. If you like total body workouts do them 3x a week. You cannot spot reduce it just doesn't work that way. It sounds as if you have a healthy diet. I just think you need to shake up your workout routine. I hope I've helped. Let me know what workouts you have & I'll help you put together a rotation. Take care, Kathy:D
 
Dear Kathy,

Hi!!! Thank you so much for your reply.

If your willing to help my rotation, I'd certainly like your advice. The Cathe workouts I like the best are like 'Boot Camp', 'Muscle Endurance', 'Step, Pump and Jump', so I am very much into the weights, and I also use the stability ball almost every day. For cardio, I try to do that 3x a week. I either to kickboxing, or a Step workout. Straight hi impact aerobics for an extended period of time proves not very well with me, as I have low blood pressure and get lightheaded. Not good!

I was thinking of adding a Stair Master, and an excersize bike, so I'm working on that. I also make sure to use the barbel for a circuit of squats, as well as upper body. I think perhaps I should concentrate on the lower body, as I have built strong glutes now, as well as the ol'gluteus maximus. I was bedridden for a few years due to an awful accident (I have the whole story in Cathe's 'Success Story' Forum. I was attacked by a Pit Bull...check out the story, it's pretty awful, but Cathe was my inspiration that I could do anything.

Well, I hope I supplied you with enought info. I await your reply, and I thank you so very much for giving me your time.

I anxiously await your reply!!!

And as I always say, "Thank you, as always, Cathe"!!!
 
Not Cathe either...but thought I'd chime in. I would also agree that you are working your abs a bit too much if you are doing Coremax every day. Your abs are muscles just like all of your other muscles and need some recovery time. I would say to only do Coremax 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days and if you feel you must, add in another shorter ab workout. I swear if I work my abs too much I end up with this kind of "swelling" phenomenon in my abs...like I'm really bloated. If I knock back on the ab work to 3 times a week this tends to go away. If it is just a layer of fat pouch which your talking about (and I have that as well) like Kathy said, you can't spot reduce fat loss. And it sounds like you've hit your last stubborn area and unfortunately that can take time to lose, so in that regard that involves dedication, clean eating, and lots of patience.

It sounds like you are doing things right. The only thing I could offer is maybe you need to change up your routine. If you've been doing the same type of rotation for 6 months it's very likely your body has become acclimated to the type of exercise and has stagnated. Completely change up your routine for the next 4 weeks and see what happens. Use a split training rotation, or one body part per day. Do a rotation of Slow and Heavy, or something more strength oriented. Or even do a month's worth of heavy cardio. A change in routine could be enough to jump start your body into giving you those last bit of results your looking for.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Deni
 
Hello Again Nightbird!

I just finished reading your inspiring story. It brought tears to my eyes. From your own sheer will & determination, you've accomplished so much & YOUR my hero. I know for me too Cathe's my icon, the one instructor that has always been my mentor. I did have the privilege of meeting her in person last year. She's such a warm, open, friendly, caring person you'd like her instantly.

I've come up with a new routine for you. I'd like you to purchase (if you can) Muscle Max (which is my favorite), Low Max as well as Core Max to add to your library. This is the rotation. See what you think of it & feel free to critique it. You didn't state if you wanted to do split routines so let me know if you'd prefer that. I'd like you to keep switching your routines every 4 weeks or so to confuse your muscles.

Day 1: Muscle Endurance
Day 2: cardio of choice
Day 3: Muscle Max
Day 4: cardio of choice
Day 5: Boot Camp or Step, Jump & Pump
Day 6: yoga or long stretch session

I wouldn't work your abs every day. It serves no purpose. I would just work the abs using different types of workouts 3x a week: stability ball/med ball & doing knee raises off of a pullup bar (if you have a bar). I would also work your abs off of a step: sit on the step w/your hands grasping the sides of the step, now draw your knees into your chest & back out. This is very effective for the lower pooch. You can replace the ab workouts in ME & SJP for one of the Core Maxes.

Let me know how this sounds. Good luck to you sweetie! Hugs, Kathy:D

PS: Deni: We must've been posting at the same time. Thanks for your input!! :D
 
Dear Deni,

Thank you very much for responding to my question.

I believe you are right when you say that when you work out your abs too much it's like a "swelling phenomenon". I was loosing it, but wanted "instant" bulge lost, which is silly, actually.

I'll definitely reduce CoreMax to 3x a week, and do more strengthing. I'll try to do Cardio more often, a change in rotation sounds like a good idea. When you described how the body sort of gets used a routine, I can certainly see the logic in it.

Thanks again, and I will certainly let you know how it goes. And I'll remember the key word you told me: PATIENCE.

Write back anytime, and I'll write with my progress soon.

Thanks, Deni!


And as I always say, "Thank you, as always, Cathe"!!!
 
Hi Kahy!


I really like the rotation you suggested, and I have all of those workouts, and have had Muscle Max in mind.

I will definitely give your rotation a try, and let's keep in touch, o.k.? I'll let you know how it goes. Incidentally, I like everyone of those workouts, so that makes it even better! Cathe's Boot Camp is the only one i like and no matter when I do it, I feel it the next day, like her 'Legs & Glutes'. That's how I know I pushed myself to my max.

I'll let you know how it works out, and thank you so much for taking the time to do this for me. You are a sweetheart, and it's nice to know there are such nice ladies as yourself on this site.

I'll be in touch, and hope you do too! Hugs to you to, Kathy!

And as I always say, "Thank you, as always, Cathe"!!!
 
I have another question for you, Nightbird. What complex carbohydrates are you consuming? Are you, for example, eating anything white? Potato, rice, sugar, etc. Are you eating any breads? If so, how much and what kind? I've found that when I remove the simple carbs with complex carbs (sweet potato and sprouted grain breads) that my lower abs shrink down.

Hope this helps.
Lorrayne
 
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