Is there point exercising?

hiyaitschloe_x

My stomach is really big - is there any point doing crunches and stuff yet? Surely it won't make a difference. Thanks.

cwolfman13

you can't spot reduce...crunches and the like are for developing abdominal muscles...they don't shrink your stomach though. Also, if you do crunches, make sure you're doing them correctly so you don't jack your neck and back up...

Exercise in general is very good for you...you will also increase energy expenditure which will make weight loss easier. There is obviously much more to exercise than crunches...

CorneliusPhoton

Exercise to keep your muscles stimulated so you don't lose them. Exercise to burn more calories and lose weight faster. Exercise for your health. Yea, I'd say there is a point to exercising.

shadowloss

Crunches will not make your stomach go flat, loosing fat will. So if that is the only goal you have, crunches are not your answer reducing your calorie intake is. There is a saying that six pack abs are not created in the gym, but in the kitchen.

With that said, the more exercise you do, the faster the fat is reduced, thereby reducing the mid section. Not to mention all the other benefits that go along with regular exercise.

Need2Exerc1se

hiyaitschloe_x wrote: »

My stomach is really big - is there any point doing crunches and stuff yet? Surely it won't make a difference. Thanks.

It won't magically make your stomach smaller if that's what you mean. But there are so many benefits to exercise beyond a flat tummy.

MostlyWater

Everyone needs to exercise. That's the way the body is.

Sued0nim

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10489024/the-dos-and-donts-of-long-term-weight-loss#latest

mila_lova

I love exercise because it makes a big difference in my mental health and the way I feel. There are tons of reasons to exercise. I second all the advice of posters above.

Machka9

Is there point exercising?

There is a point for me! It's why I lost the weight!

I wanted to be able to do everything I did just a few years before, before I gained the weight ... all the long distance cycling, the hiking up mountains. I love spending long hours outdoors being active and always have done. It's refreshing and energising and challenging and adventurous. It keeps me from being bored and depressed. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. It allowed me to meet like-minded people (including my husband). I could go on and on ...

And the last thing I wanted to do was to celebrate my 50th birthday in 2017 as a dumpy, frumpy woman who looked closer to 60 than 50, and couldn't do anything anymore.

In order to be able to reclaim my life, I needed to exercise! I wanted to exercise!

ugofatcat

You mean like lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, improved oxygen capacity, sleeping better, less likely to get depressed, lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol and maintaining functional independence and activities of daily living as you age?

85Cardinals

Exercise makes you feel good and is generally good for your body, but if your top priority is losing weight and you're really big, it's the calories coming in to focus on. Something like walking might be a better way to go than hammering out abdominal crunches at this point.

cerise_noir

I walk and lift for my sanity.

soda80

if for nothing else, just for the better sleep

CattOfTheGarage

The muscles are still there under the fat, exercising them will still make them stronger. Not everything is about appearance.

trigden1991

Exercise is not required but is very beneficial. However crunch's or direct ab work is not.

jennifer_417

Exercise is great for you. It improves your health, plus burns calories so that you can eat more! As far as crunches go, they will develop your core muscles and such, which is good, but the only th8ng that will reduce your stomach is to reduce your overall body fat by way of a calorie deficit.

NorthCascades

Exercise is fun!

Spliner1969

hiyaitschloe_x wrote: »

My stomach is really big - is there any point doing crunches and stuff yet? Surely it won't make a difference. Thanks.

Yes and no. Yes there is a point, the point is to build muscle in those areas. No, it won't make a big difference in the size of your belly. The only thing that will make that difference will be eating at a deficit and losing weight and burning fat. But, if you do the crunches (or core exercises of your choice) then you'll have muscle waiting when you do lose it.

ninerbuff

The point of exercise is for health and fitness. People can lose weight without it, but weight loss also affects how much lean muscle one keeps (atrophy). Exercise helps to retain that muscle, helps to strengthen it and overall helps with a higher calorie expenditure.
And it doesn't have to be hours and hours of exercise.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

peaceout_aly

hiyaitschloe_x wrote: »

My stomach is really big - is there any point doing crunches and stuff yet? Surely it won't make a difference. Thanks.

Spot reduction isn't a thing. Fat can only be lost with a calorie deficit. If I were you, I would definitely still exercise to start a healthy habit but I would focus on incorporating cardio instead of weight training (or even bodyweight circuits). Not sure what your CW and GW are but when you get closer to the GW you will want to start incorporating weight training, doing core circuits and what not so you can reveal muscle below the fat!

rileysowner

trigden1991 wrote: »

Exercise is not required but is very beneficial. However crunch's or direct ab work is not.

I was going to say the same thing. You would benefit more from a simply 30-60 minute walk than from doing crunches. Walking is a great way to start to get active. It is weight bearing, so it is good for the bones that support your body as well. If you increase the speed you walk to a brisk walk there is additional cardiovascular benefits as well.

Cylphin60

I started exercising when I started losing weight, and glad I did. Saying I feel I have a new lease on life is not an understatement. And it's only been a year...

Machka9

trigden1991 wrote: »

Exercise is not required but is very beneficial. However crunch's or direct ab work is not.

I agree.

Core work is good and can be part of it, but I've found walking, hiking, running, cycling, canoeing, rowing, and weightlifting to be more beneficial on many levels.

Machka9

Incidentally, here's another benefit of exercise ...

I was diagnosed with precancer a couple weeks ago. This past Thursday, I saw my oncologist who ran tests etc. and reviewed everything and finally sat down with me to discuss the matter.

Turns out it is a particularly low grade of precancer which won't likely spread or become cancer, and may in fact resolve itself. And then he said ... "because you're fit and strong and slender, you have a greater chance of fighting this off yourself with no additional treatment".

Well now that was encouraging!! I'm to see him again in 6 months to determine if it is gone or what.

But if ever there's a point to exercise, that might be it. At least for me.

apullum

You can lose fat without exercising, as long as you're in a calorie deficit. But whether you exercise or not, you can't control where you lose the fat from. However, building muscle definition will help give you a toned look, as well as lots of other benefits. For me, I started running because it was something I never thought I would be able to do. I started with Couch to 5k--run for one minute, walk for one minute, alternate for 20 minutes, gradually increase the run interval and decrease the walking. That first minute of running was the hardest run of my life. Now, I've finished two half marathons and many shorter races. Running gives me a goal to work toward and a huge sense of accomplishment. I'm close to my goal weight and I wish I'd started strength training sooner, but I'm doing it now and I really like the way it makes me feel. If you don't like crunches, you don't have to do crunches--there are plenty of options for both cardio and strength exercises.

Also, I would encourage you to keep an open mind. I think that even small amounts of exercise are better than no exercise. You say "surely it won't make a difference," but you might wind up being pleasantly surprised.

kkress92

I suffered from low back pain for years, but since doing regular ab workouts (Combined with back strengthening) the pain is gone. While crunches alone won't give you a six-pack if they're hidden under a layer of fat, you'll never regret strengthening your core