Help! Reverse crunches..??

Viennawaits21
Viennawaits21 Posts: 3 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone :smile: I've only just properly started using MFP in the last month or so, and now that I'm starting to see some weight loss, I'm trying to really tone up my stomach area.

I've been using the fitness blender ab workouts on youtube and already I can see that my upper abs are toning up but I cant feel anything in my lower abs.

Most of the exercises use reverse crunches for this area, and this sounds really stupid, but I cant seem to lift my legs high enough up the ground to feel any sort of burn in the lower ab area - could someone please tell me where i'm going wrong?

Also if any of you could recommend any other effective lower ab exercses that'd be awesome :)

Thank you so much!

Replies

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    You probably will ignore this advice, but skip the reverse crunches. Ab exercises don't "tone up" the abs. For an explanation, Google "spot reduction myth". My advice - follow a good, full-body strength training program, like NROL or Stronglifts. Doing more than 2 minutes of abs is a waste of time.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    Ab exercises will not hurt you - but they are not going to get rid of any stomach fat. I have a pretty strong core from lifting heavy for the last year. However, you can not see my abs because they are still under some fat. (I've lost 100 pounds, but have about 40 more to go). I don't know how much you have to lose, if any.

    Abs really are made in the kitchen. Keep losing the fat and check out lifting heavy. I don't think you'll regret it!
  • maroonmango211
    maroonmango211 Posts: 908 Member
    Like others said, if you're looking to SEE abs, there's no miracle work out to spot reduce the fat clinging to that area but if you are looking to strengthen your lower abdominal muscles then there are many things you can do. I personally love reverse crunches, maybe because I've loved how along with strengthening my abs they seem to help with my saggy post pregnancy skin after losing some pudge, if not done using the correct muscles though it will just be like you're swinging your legs with no abdominal pull. Concentrate on not moving your legs (mine only move a couple inches when I do it) but on lifting your tailbone slightly off the ground and pulling your belly button inwards like trying to touch it to your spine, hold for a second and release/ repeat.

    Other than reverse crunches any full body or core exercise will help strengthen your lower abs, squats, planks, balance poses, you have a lot to chose from, all depends on what type of work out you prefer to do.

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