Toning up the tummy

Kristinemillar

Hi Guys,

I'm in the process of losing a little weight and toning up before my wedding in October but am struggling with my lower abdomen. I do Zumba classes once a week but also use the Wii zumba game 3 times a week too. While this is starting to give me definition in my upper torso (abs) I am finding it difficult to tone my lower abdomen (around the pelvic region.

I can't do stomach crunches due to arthritis and I am really looking for a good exercise to firm up this area of my body.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Krissie

aa1440

Crunches and reverse crunches. But with your arthritis this is out of the question.

Genie30

Have you tried pilates? You could do it at home on your own or, if you want to, go to a session in a gym where the instructor could modify the moves to accomodate your arthritis. I always find Pilates surprisingly hard work!

TheMrsBee

Have you tried pilates? You could do it at home on your own or, if you want to, go to a session in a gym where the instructor could modify the moves to accomodate your arthritis. I always find Pilates surprisingly hard work!

I have heard that pilates is VERY good and when i have lost about stone will join (not confident at the mo) and i heard that is Pippa Middleton got THAT bottom!! (hehe)

Good luck and i hope you have a lovely wedding! (@Kristinemillar)

SarahLouiseFlint

I have the same thing, i loose weight around my waist but still have the bulge around my belly button - apparantly, (i have read)this is all to do with your natural shape. But you can burn fat (like your zumba classes) which will reduce the weight on your tummy , but in the meantime you can tone up the muscles underneath.
Two good exercises:
Sitting on a chair, feet on the floor, back straight - lift your knees up towards your chest and hold, then bring them down slowly.
or lying on the floor, legs up in a straight line, bend one knee and push your leg out infront of you then return to the upright position and repeat for the other leg, but try to keep your back flat on the floor,don't let it arch.
Hope these help.x

hroush

You're "toning" your upper abdomen because you're losing weight. As you continue to lose weight, your lower abdomen will become "toned" as well. This is usually the last area to lose fat. If you really want to do some ab exercises for it, you could try plank as this works everything, but I don't know if you could.

You should really be lifting some weights as this would help the most, but definitely seek a specialist who could tell you what you could do due to your arthritis.

Helena4

I'd love to know this too! My whole body has toned up apart from the weight below my belly button and it's like a bulge rather than all across the my hips...weird! I'm trying to reduce the amount of wheat I eat (minus my breakfast) and getting more protein combined with 30 Day Shred DVD and lots of walking Hope you find a sollution...please share if you do!!

gameovergt

agree with the planks, also mason twists, fireman chops!

elizamc

I do Pilates and it def helps, the teacher should give you alternatives to what you cant do.

The other thing is if you swim - swim, swim, swim! One year I swam lots and lots of lengths a few times a week and it made a big difference, but was unfortunately time poor then and couldn't keep going.

Good luck!

SixCatFaerie

I have the same thing, i loose weight around my waist but still have the bulge around my belly button - apparantly, (i have read)this is all to do with your natural shape. But you can burn fat (like your zumba classes) which will reduce the weight on your tummy , but in the meantime you can tone up the muscles underneath.
Two good exercises:
Sitting on a chair, feet on the floor, back straight - lift your knees up towards your chest and hold, then bring them down slowly.
or lying on the floor, legs up in a straight line, bend one knee and push your leg out infront of you then return to the upright position and repeat for the other leg, but try to keep your back flat on the floor,don't let it arch.
Hope these help.x

Thank you for posting these!


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the_ratman79

that bottom part of your stomach to tone is really tough and it can depend on what you do for a job. i was very active last year in my job - working in the warehouse, constantly on my feet and always lifting boxes up and down and generally on the move. i had a 6 pack then. now i'm working in the office and i'm down to 2 packs! i'm still eating the same and varying my exercise routines every month - nothing has changed in that respect - but it's a lot tougher to tone the lower abdomen if you're sat constantly for 8 hours per day. it's not impossible you just have to be very careful what you eat. i'm stepping up my training now to see if it's going to ditch that final bit and get me back to 6 pack which i'm confident it will but it's harder when you're sat down all day is my point!

Kristinemillar

Thanks guys for all your input.

I'll give some of these suggestions a go and let you know how I get on. Unfortunately I cannot go swimming as I am allergic to Chlorine but I know that it is great for shaping the body.

Pilates isn't for me I'm afraid, I tried it a few years ago and didn't enjoy it much. I do however like Yoga so I'll maybe give that another go... I am limited to classes I can take as I live in a small village and don't drive/want to join a gym.

I have skipping to add to my list of exercises and the zumba is really paying off.

Krissie