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Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:34 pm  |
| I've been working out but haven't seen any results with my mid-section. Any recommendations for a good ab workout? |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:13 am |
| I know it's really boring and old-fashioned, but I keep going back to good old sit-ups! I use a fitball and do them on that, which adds resistance as you have to brace against the ball (I'm not explaining it very well I know!) and makes them more effective. Worth a try if nothing else works! |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:52 am |
| fifi wrote: |
| I know it's really boring and old-fashioned, but I keep going back to good old sit-ups! |
I second that! Only I use an Ab-trainer, this thing I bought off one of those 'as seen on TV' infomercials.
It makes doing sit-ups a lot easier, but surprisingly effective (not that I have a flat ab  far from it  ). I've abandoned the ab-trainer in the store-room to collect dust. I should get back at that now shouldn't I... |
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41 combination skin. Chanel Mat Lumiere Extreme in Beige Ambre for colour ref. I don't wear foundation anymore (thanks to this board I have better and healthier skin than when I was younger). Skincare staples: Retin A, Cleansing oil to remove makeup, BHA cleanser for hormonal breakouts, aloe vera gel, sunscreen. |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:05 am |
When you say working out, do you mind my asking what you do?
Everyone has abs--most of us just want them to show! However, if you have body fat covering them, you can do the perfect ab routine and not see a thing (though you'd be strengthening your core, which is good!). Diet is also at least 80% of the weight loss equation. So that, and a good cardio/weight lifting program will help lower your body fat to make the abs more visible.
To develope your abs, and strengthen your core, their are a ton of different exercises. Just make sure you hit the internal and external obliques and upper/lower abs. Like any other body part, new research has shown that you don't need to do a thousand sit-ups. You can choose an exercise or two for each ab muscle and do 3 sets of 12-20 reps. It's hard to explain all the exercises in detail, but if you do a google search you'll find pictures. My favorite are traditional crunches, reverse crunches, ball crunches, the plank (awesome!) supermans, reverse supermans, bicycles, and side crunches.
Otherwise their are pilates and yoga moves that also work great--so if you prefer those, go for it. Whatever works for you, just be consistant in all areas and you'll see results!
On a final note, just remember that we all adapt to our exercises. So start off easy and then change your routine (add weight, change exercises, # of sets/reps) every 4 weeks so you keep seeing results!
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:56 am |
| My best ab firmer is my 20 minute Windsor pilates workout for abs. |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:31 am |
| I've found that Yoga has really been toning my abs. Didn't expect it to, but it's a nice bonus!^-^ |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:38 am |
| I've never done yoga, but I just noticed my gym has regular classes so might be time to give it a try. They also run regular Pilates courses so I'm thinking of signing up for the next one of those - here's hoping for some more firming! |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:03 am |
From my experience, Do a overall exercise routine at least 3 times a week and you'll see your abs before you know it. I used to do exercises concentrated on my abs, butt... but got very frustrated because it did not show the result. Then I put them aside and do a overall routine and now I have muscles everywhere. If you saw my other posts you might be tired of me talking about my biceps, triceps, and abs. I always have good biceps and some abs but no triceps at all. After 2 years yoga practicing, even my tennis coach was surprised how well defined my triceps are. And now after 5 years yoga exercise I have very well defined abs (4 only, working on the bottom 2).
But remember, no exercise does magic. You need to put in time, and effort. Pick the routine you like and stick to it. And yes, diet plays a very important role too. |
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53, DermaQuest, NCN Products, PMD, Dermarolling |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:13 pm |
| No matter what I do, I cannot ever seem to firm up my upper arms - I long for nice defined triceps! |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:48 pm |
| fifi: Try different pushups. In my yoga class we do at least 10 different pushups each session. |
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53, DermaQuest, NCN Products, PMD, Dermarolling |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:10 pm |
| MACrisis wrote: |
| fifi: Try different pushups. In my yoga class we do at least 10 different pushups each session. |
What exactly are "different pushups"... different than how? I'm currently doing 60 regular pushups daily and well... they're boring.. I want a different pushup. I must say regular ones give great results though. I have heard that the body part that you can see a difference in the fastest is the arms. I want arms like Kate on Lost. She's one tough cookie.
Ahhh.. sorry this was about abs... um, I do 8 Minute Abs! everyday. Sometimes I do the ole Abs of Steel... I do alot of pilates too and you know those 100's and teasers... |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:51 pm |
| DiverChick wrote: |
When you say working out, do you mind my asking what you do?
Everyone has abs--most of us just want them to show! However, if you have body fat covering them, you can do the perfect ab routine and not see a thing (though you'd be strengthening your core, which is good!). Diet is also at least 80% of the weight loss equation. So that, and a good cardio/weight lifting program will help lower your body fat to make the abs more visible.
To develope your abs, and strengthen your core, their are a ton of different exercises. Just make sure you hit the internal and external obliques and upper/lower abs. Like any other body part, new research has shown that you don't need to do a thousand sit-ups. You can choose an exercise or two for each ab muscle and do 3 sets of 12-20 reps. It's hard to explain all the exercises in detail, but if you do a google search you'll find pictures. My favorite are traditional crunches, reverse crunches, ball crunches, the plank (awesome!) supermans, reverse supermans, bicycles, and side crunches.
Otherwise their are pilates and yoga moves that also work great--so if you prefer those, go for it. Whatever works for you, just be consistant in all areas and you'll see results!
On a final note, just remember that we all adapt to our exercises. So start off easy and then change your routine (add weight, change exercises, # of sets/reps) every 4 weeks so you keep seeing results!
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I work out for 1/2 hour every other morning with my Tony Little Gazelle machine. http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/product_detail.asp?departmentId=4436&templateCode=PD&itemId=292692
I noticed that I'm getting toned everywhere except my abs. I was looking for more interesting workouts than boring situps and crunches. |
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Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:54 pm |
| TAMgirl99 wrote: |
| My best ab firmer is my 20 minute Windsor pilates workout for abs. |
I was contemplating whether or not to start working out with Windsor Pilates. My sister bought the starter kit. I suppose there's no harm in trying. It's good to hear that it worked for you.  |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:24 am |
I also agree that diet is the only way to get the fat off. I use both the Winsor abs and Gaiam AM/PM Jillian Hessel and this has
taken 1.5 inches of my waist and flattened by stomach. The workouts are about 20 minutes (also a 40 min version) and I do them 3-5 times a week. |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:50 am |
in terms of sit ups without using any equipment, best thing to do is while on your back and your knees bent put your finger tips on your knees and go forward just till you pass your wrists. we did that in jiujitsu classes, and found it was most effective as it concentrates on your abs and you can't cheat.
oli |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:17 am |
| oli_d wrote: |
in terms of sit ups without using any equipment, best thing to do is while on your back and your knees bent put your finger tips on your knees and go forward just till you pass your wrists. we did that in jiujitsu classes, and found it was most effective as it concentrates on your abs and you can't cheat.
oli |
Sorry but could you clarify the "go forward just till you pass your wrists" part? I must need more coffee but I can't visualize that. |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:20 am |
| stardust wrote: |
| sorry but could you clarify the "go forward just till you pass your wrists" part? I must need more coffee but I can't visualize that. |
oh, if only we could draw things it would be so much easier . well, think of how you would normally do sit ups on the floor, you would raise your entire upper body, i.e. you straighten/sit up. This way you don't sit up all the way, the movement is more concentrated. You move the length of your hand, so from your finger tip to just past your wrist. Lets do it this way, lay down on the floor as though you are about to do sit ups and bend your knees as you normally would. Now put your finger tips on your knees(your shoulders will be off the floor). Now, start doing your sit up, and the moment you get to your wrist, stop and go back down to your starting position, which is your finger tips on your knees, not all the way down. Hope this clarified it a bit more.
oli |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:13 am |
Well, push-ups don't figure anywhere in my exercise routine right now, so maybe that's my problem. I think I'll have to ask one of the gym instructors to show me the most effective way to use them to tone my arms though - I wasn't aware that there were different types of push-ups!
Intrigued by the variation of sit-ups too, always looking for ways to add some variety! |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:38 am |
Ohmygosh if you thought there was a few different varieties of crunches/ situps before have a look at this website.
http://www.shapefit.com/training.html
I found it last night and it's real nice because there's little moving images showing you exactly how to do it. There's 45 different kinds of ab excercises you can do! I found this website for the arm excerises though and it covers everything from your butt to your chest to you calfs.
Also, if you are new to doing crunches and notice alot of strain on your neck you can make your own ab machine. "Get a bath towel and like with it lengthwise under you. Hold an upper corner of the towel in each hand. The towel will support your head and neck while you do sit-ups and abdominal crunches" -quoted from "The World's Best-Kept Diet Secrets"... I've tried this and it feels just like one of those ab rollers... it probably makes the workout a tad easier, but it still works the abs quite nice and takes a lot of strain off the neck area. Once your abs get stronger you usually don't get that strain though I've noticed. |
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Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:54 am |
| What a fab website! I just saw the perfect push-up to work the triceps too, will try it out tomorrow at the gym . |
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Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:36 am |
Thanks oli_d. I think I've got it now.
PhoebesMeow - Great website. There are a lot of different exercises to check out. |
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Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:47 am |
I'm a dance and fitness instructor, and good workouts for abs are pilates, belly dance, and yoga in that order. Belly dance stomach flutters, rolls, and undulations can be done standing, sitting, or lying down. They are as good as crunches. I tell my students to practice them while sitting at red lights.
Belly dance in the cabaret style is also amazing for upper arms since the arms are held up and are engaged. Shoulder circles with arms at chest level, in front and out to side, are fantastic. Try them with light hand weights to amp improvement.
Holding the "plank" position for several minutes every day will work abs, arms, and back.
Good luck! |
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Best, Jeannine (40s, fair skin, hazel eyes, sensitive skin). To fight the dread lemming sickness, I promise not to rave about a product until I have used it for a long while. |
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Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:38 pm |
| fifi wrote: |
| No matter what I do, I cannot ever seem to firm up my upper arms - I long for nice defined triceps! |
SWIM, SWIM, SWIM!!!
I swim 3x/per week, one mile in the pool (72 laps), stopping every 10 for a small drink of water. Then I float on my back for a couple of minutes and take a sauna. Heavenly!
And I get so many comments on my toned arms and back, that I will never give it up! AND it has toned my abs as well, since you need to engage them in order to hold yourself afloat. I focus on reaching, lengthening, basically applying pilates principles to my swimming style. I highly recommend that you ladies get yourself a swimming instructor! |
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http://newnaturalbeauty.tumblr.com/ 37, light-toned olive skin, broken caps, normal skin. My staples: Osea cleansing milk, Algae Oil, Advanced Protection Cream, Eyes & Lips, Tata Harper, Julie Hewett makeup, Amazing Cosmetics Powder, & By Terry Light Expert, Burnout, and daily inversion therapy and green smoothies! |
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Mon May 01, 2006 6:29 am |
avalange - I have always been in LOVE with the water! In fact, the main reason I had lasik done for my eyes is because I love to be in the water and contact lens and water just do not mix! Anyway, I started doing laps last summer at my gym since it has a wonderful pool/hot tub/sauna area. However, I started to get a bit put off by it because of a couple of things. First, my hair is naturally very dry and the added chlorine was just parching it. Also, I can only wash my hair twice a week since it does get so dry if I straighten it more than that (yes I have very curly hair that I refuse to wear curly since it makes me look like I'm 12). So, coordinating swim time with washing my hair didn't always work.
My question is, do you know of anything that I could use to keep my hair dry while doing laps? The few swim caps I've tried always let some water in. If not, do you have any particular type of shampoo/conditioner that keeps your hair from frying? I'd love to start picking it back up but I'm trying to find something that would protect my hair first. It won't do many any good to have that swimmer's body if I have dried-out troll hair to go with it! |
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Mon May 01, 2006 7:58 am |
TAM,
I also coordinate my swimming with my needs to wash my hair, and I have had the same problems. I found a very thick swimcap by TYR that is made out of silicone that saved me--it does indeed keep my hair dry while I swim. But, the best thing that I do for my hair is put on a very intense hair treatment while I swim , my favorite being lavendar/wheat germ hair oil by "Christophe Robin," and burt's bees avocado hair butter. These products are supposed to sit on the hair for a long time before you shampoo, so I apply them about an hour before I go swimming and then rinse them afterward. And the fact that I don't need to bring a bottle of conditioner with me is a plus, too! My hair is very long and does not get dry anymore. I hope that helps! |
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http://newnaturalbeauty.tumblr.com/ 37, light-toned olive skin, broken caps, normal skin. My staples: Osea cleansing milk, Algae Oil, Advanced Protection Cream, Eyes & Lips, Tata Harper, Julie Hewett makeup, Amazing Cosmetics Powder, & By Terry Light Expert, Burnout, and daily inversion therapy and green smoothies! |
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