sweetgirl141 Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 Soooo, I have a goal to have visible abs by summer and since the beginning of the year ive been running on the treadmill or doing the eliptical for atleast 45 minutes. The problem is, most ab exercises I attempt do not leave me feeling sore the follow day so I feel like I am not getting a good workout. Anyone have any tips or good abdominal exercises?
ghost69 Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 use weight, do more reps, hold the flex longer, etc. try doing the stationary bike. you are constantly lifting your legs in rotation which is good for that area. sorry, but i think the elliptical is a ridiculous machine.
Clementine orange Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 One word, and I'll say it twice for emphasis: Pilates (pilates) If you can afford it, take a class and avoid the DVD route.
Clementine orange Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 a. sorry, but i think the elliptical is a ridiculous machine. I hate that machine. For some reason I always get motion sickness on it.
waveseer Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 You have to do ab exercises to failure. Try bicycles, crunches, situps, leg lifts, side crunches, hip lifts, knee lifts, v-sit crunches, shoulder stand leg lifts, leg crunch then extensions (standing and kneeling).
keenan Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 To have well-defined abs you have to get rid of the fat covering them, and also get the muscles toned. So that means some kind of regular aerobic exercise for 45 minutes a day, plus serious, serious crunches and core strengthening exercises. I'm not a fan of the elliptical machine, either, although I use it. It's a pretty good way to keep your heart rate up and your weight down without hurting your knees. Clem is RIGHT ON about Pilates (although at my gym it's INSANELY expensive).
veneratio Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 weighted exercises. if you want soreness, you'll get it.
sweetgirl141 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Posted February 6, 2009 To have well-defined abs you have to get rid of the fat covering them, and also get the muscles toned. So that means some kind of regular aerobic exercise for 45 minutes a day, plus serious, serious crunches and core strengthening exercises. I'm not a fan of the elliptical machine, either, although I use it. It's a pretty good way to keep your heart rate up and your weight down without hurting your knees. Clem is RIGHT ON about Pilates (although at my gym it's INSANELY expensive). I did pilates once and was pretty sore after. It is just hard for me to find time to attend the class. Ive been running about 2 miles on the treadmill and my legs will be incredibly sore and my abs sore a little bit.
hers Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 I'm glad you posted this. I'm having the same issue. I'm doing the ab cruncher machine with about 40lbs of weight & I am not sore & I havenmt noticed a change. I haven't yet done any changes to my diet though so that's my next step. What's everyone have against the elliptical machine? I love it. I did 4 miles on it today & yesterday. It makes me feel great.
sweetgirl141 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Posted February 6, 2009 I'm glad you posted this. I'm having the same issue. I'm doing the ab cruncher machine with about 40lbs of weight & I am not sore & I havenmt noticed a change. I haven't yet done any changes to my diet though so that's my next step. What's everyone have against the elliptical machine? I love it. I did 4 miles on it today & yesterday. It makes me feel great. The only thing negative about the eliptical machine ive experienced was that my feet fall asleep after a while. Its weird. Your diet is a HUGE factor in the abdominal thing. You have to cut waaaay back on the sugars, sodas, white bread, white pasta, etc.
hers Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 The only thing negative about the eliptical machine ive experienced was that my feet fall asleep after a while. Its weird. Your diet is a HUGE factor in the abdominal thing. You have to cut waaaay back on the sugars, sodas, white bread, white pasta, etc. yeah that happens to my feet too. I can go about 22 minutes tops on it. Then I go work out on some weights and come back and do about another 10-15 minutes. I have gotten to 4 miles total so far and I'm proud of myself!! I'm not ready to cut out soda and sugar. Sigh. I know I need to. That's the hardest part. It's hard enough getting myself to work out everyday.
keenan Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 I'm glad you posted this. I'm having the same issue. I'm doing the ab cruncher machine with about 40lbs of weight & I am not sore & I havenmt noticed a change. I haven't yet done any changes to my diet though so that's my next step. What's everyone have against the elliptical machine? I love it. I did 4 miles on it today & yesterday. It makes me feel great. Yeah, I do the ab cruncher machine with 50 pounds, and I've gotta say that I'm not sure it's doing anything for me! I can feel some 'arghhh' while I'm using it, but afterward...not so much. But on days when I do tons of plain ol' crunches on the floor? Yeah ~ that hurts. I just really want the machine to be great because it seems fun, less boring, and less hard on my back. As for the elliptical...I dunno. It's fine and I do it, but I almost I feel like I'm cheating. Like, I can slack off on it and put in my time but not really get a good workout. I have to force myself to crank it up to really high resistance, but if I do that I'm not convinced that I wouldn't be getting an even better workout on the stair climber (or that stair climber machine with the rolling staircase...holy cow, that thing KILLS me!!!)
hers Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 i hear the stairclimber isn't good if you are looking to lose the fat in your legs. that's why i've done the elliptical. i have done about 10 floors on the stairmaster a few times, just to get my stamina up that way, since i have to walk up a lot of stairs for work sometimes. i have the same issue with the ab cruncher--it kills my abs while i'm doing it, but afterwards, nothing. everything else really hurts my back.
waveseer Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 I forgot to mention that six packs are made in the kitchen not the gym. What I eat and when I eat it has a greater effect on the visibility (or lack thereof) of my abs than any exercise could have.
keenan Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 i hear the stairclimber isn't good if you are looking to lose the fat in your legs. that's why i've done the elliptical. i have done about 10 floors on the stairmaster a few times, just to get my stamina up that way, since i have to walk up a lot of stairs for work sometimes. i have the same issue with the ab cruncher--it kills my abs while i'm doing it, but afterwards, nothing. everything else really hurts my back. Yeah, I've heard that the stairclimber is better for building muscle in your legs, whereas the elliptical machine is primarily for a good aerobic workout. My goal is to get strong enough to leave my friends in the dust when I x-country ski, lol. Kidding....
ImThatGirl Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 If using one of the ab machines (resistance machines = whatever it's called!) say 4 times a week, how long would it take to notice? For most people, would they see a difference in say 4 weeks? I've never worked out really so I don't know what to expect... I finally started working out 2 days ago. And yesterday one of the guys show me the machines and got me set up. It's hard work for sure!
dont_know_what_2_say Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 diet, diet, diet. you can do all the ab exercises you like but if you are still eating fatty foods and don't get rid of the layer of fat covering them you won't be able to see them.
ghost69 Posted February 12, 2009 Posted February 12, 2009 If using one of the ab machines (resistance machines = whatever it's called!) say 4 times a week, how long would it take to notice? For most people, would they see a difference in say 4 weeks? I've never worked out really so I don't know what to expect... I finally started working out 2 days ago. And yesterday one of the guys show me the machines and got me set up. It's hard work for sure! eat less calories and hit some cardio after your weight training.
summerpeach Posted February 12, 2009 Posted February 12, 2009 I didn't read this entire thread so I may be repeating myself DIET DIET DIET.....abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. I'm a weight lifter and not-a-once have I ever done ab work. I've done lots of building with weights and clean diet and had a awesome 4 pack. Flat and sexy! You can exercise all you want, but if your diet sucks, you will never see abs
summerpeach Posted February 12, 2009 Posted February 12, 2009 diet, diet, diet. you can do all the ab exercises you like but if you are still eating fatty foods and don't get rid of the layer of fat covering them you won't be able to see them. ok, someone else said it first agreed x 100000000
amtjrtcet Posted February 12, 2009 Posted February 12, 2009 Soooo, I have a goal to have visible abs by summer and since the beginning of the year ive been running on the treadmill or doing the eliptical for atleast 45 minutes. The problem is, most ab exercises I attempt do not leave me feeling sore the follow day so I feel like I am not getting a good workout. Anyone have any tips or good abdominal exercises? get p90 x ab ripper. I only do it twice a wk, can't handle anymore then that. Kicks my abs.. I've got a visible 4 pack, almost there on the 6 pack....its hard though. Not for beginners.
calidreamin0 Posted February 13, 2009 Posted February 13, 2009 I found the best tool: the weighted ball! Ab exercise's are so much more effective with some added weight, you will definitely feel the burn, and sore the next day. I have been doing various crunches, with the ball under my knees. Then side bends, with the ball in one hand. And also laying down with the ball overhead and crunching up to your abs is great as well. I've used it for about a week, and I am already starting to see the difference. Not to mention, it kinda adds something new to the routine. Also have you ever done 'penguins'? I am not sure of the real term, but you are touching your hands on your ankles back and forth, much like a penguin. It does great things for the curvy parts!
hers Posted February 13, 2009 Posted February 13, 2009 ^^ I love the crunch balls or whatever, where you lie on the big bouncy ones. I feel such a burn in my abs, more so than doing crunches on a weight machine.
ghost69 Posted February 13, 2009 Posted February 13, 2009 ^^^i think they are talking about the 10-15lb balls that you hold onto with your hands.
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