Carry Weight Around Midsection, Abs are Shot

flrancho

I am overweight and seem to carry most of my excess weight in my midsection in the form of a pot belly. In addition to loosing the excess weight, I'd like to become flat-stomached.

I've never had great core strength, even when I was thin. Several years ago (and what was ultimately the beginning of my weight issues) I went into the hospital for severe abdominal pain. They thought it was my appendix, which it was not (through they removed it anyway). The ultimate problem was apparently a softball sized mass on my ovary which had to be removed along with the ovary and filopean tube on that side. They apparently did some other stuff in there too that was related to problems I had stemming from other female issues. Medication as a result was not kind to me weight wise.

When I came to after surgery, I remember them saying something about what they had to do and them making mention of having to cut through my abdominal muscles.

I'm sure being overweight and not fit doesn't help either, but my abs seem to be shot. I'm lucky if I can get my shoulders off the ground on a sit up, and so much for actually engaging my abs to try to do anything.

Any suggestions on other ways to loose belly belly fat besides dieting (which I'm already doing) and sit ups? Any exercises I can do to work my completely shot abs and work them to the point where I can do a sit up/crunches? Any other exercises to start out with for someone with an incredibly weakened core / abdominals?

JenMc14

Diet is the only way to get a flat belly. getting a flat belly and strengthening your core are two different goals. To lose belly fat, eat at a deficit. Do some resistance training (I'm partial to heavier lifting myself) to retain muscle mass, do some cardio you enjoy. Your body picks where you lose fat from when, but losing overall body fat will eventually give you a smaller stomach.

As for getting stronger, I'd suggest planks and variants. They are a great core exercise. And, doing heavier compound lifts requires you to engage your core to steady the bar, so those lifts will help you as well.

kellenas

I'm not sure, but I'm trying heavy lifting. I've seen a lot of women on here have had good experience with that.

jacksonpt

Diet is the only way. Situps will do nothing.

As for your comment on core strength... body weight has little to do with muscle strength. If you want a stronger core, you need to work those stabilizing muscles. Things like squats, deadlifts and planks are great for that.