Lifting weights and stomach crunches??

tsgskey

So, I have been faithfully logging in and adding my exercise and food for 30 days now. I really want to lose the weight and get rid of my stomach. Should I just stick to only cardio exercises for a while or has lifting been successful for some of you as well? I'm doing both right now. Also, stomach crunches. Do they really work when you are trying to get rid of the midsection? Someone said to me, that doing them just adds muscle under the fat.

sunshinesonata

So, I have been faithfully logging in and adding my exercise and food for 30 days now. I really want to lose the weight and get rid of my stomach. Should I just stick to only cardio exercises for a while or has lifting been successful for some of you as well? I'm doing both right now. Also, stomach crunches. Do they really work when you are trying to get rid of the midsection? Someone said to me, that doing them just adds muscle under the fat.

Try flutter kicks! They help. Lie on your back, with your feet slightly off the ground and move them alternatively up and down. Make sure that you're looking at your feet when you're doing this.

As for the cardio, cardio WILL help you lose the weight, just make sure that you're adding strength training in on your regime as well. Good luck!

jlewis2896

Do both!!

Cardio is a fat burner, but strength training is completely vital to increasing your metabolism. And building that muscle under fat is not such a bad thing -- muscle at rest burns calories just by being there!! Also, muscle will help sculpt your shape.

erickirb

lifting is important for every stage of weight loss, it helps ensure that you lose less muscle than if you did cardio only.

SeaChele77

Adding weights is vital to your success. Yes, you need cardio, but you should also add in a *minimum* of 15min of weight training to include core exercises. Another way to burn extra calories and kill two birds?.... Carry weights while walking - throw in some shoulder presses, punches, curls, arm lifts and you'll burn almost double the calories while toning your muscles.

BigRedgw2010

Yes, you should lift weights and do many different abs exercises. The more muscle you can develop the more your body will shed the fat. Stick to you low calorie diet and you will see your mid section in no time.

jeffpettis

That is true, it will add muscle under the fat. But when you do lose the fat you will have a nice start on having some good ab muscles. Do what works best for you. I do circuit training, which is cardio and strength training put together. It will help tone the muscle, maybe even build a little muscle, but at the same time it burns a ton of calories, which is what you have to do to burn the fat. Hope this helps, and hang in there. :drinker:

ashfuse

I use 1 pound weights when I do Tae Bo and implement resistance bands. I burn sometimes double the calories when I do this.

crystalmichelle82

Weights w/ ab workouts is crucial. Sit on your toosh w/ your back flat at a 45 degree angle, legs bent out in front of you. Twist your obliques w/ the weights from side to side, lightly touching your elbow to the floor. Also lay down like that, put weight right above your chest, lift up slowly doing a crunch, then lift all the way up w/ your weights sliding up your thighs as your crunch your core to lift yourself up. I get these from the ChaLean Extreme Ab Burner & Extreme abs I do. Anyway, good luck!

ChantalGG

OH yeah you still need to do cardio to get rid of the fat, Unless you are following you diet and sticking to the amount of calories you should be under. If i were you i would add cardio to get you to were you want to be sooner.

pyro13g

If you are at a calorie deficit you will lose more muscle if you do not do something to keep it like intense enough strength training.

Just cardio can lead to skinny fat. So watch for it happening.

Depending on what you are doing for strength training, direct ab work is usually not necessary. Depending what kind of things you do for cardio, it may already be working your abs.

I do crunches with weight added, just like any other muscle. 1 or 2 sets of 15 reps per week. I use a lot of resistance.

Cardio burning fat is pretty much a myth as to what most people think is going on. Cardio burns calories. LOWER intensity cardio burns more fat. http://www.myfooddiary.com/resources/ask_the_expert/fat-burning_zone_myth.asp

kylies1219

I would continue to do both cardio and strength training. Don't do the same exercise everyday though switch it up. Crunches do add muscle to your midsection but they aren't going to get rid of your belly alone. People always talk about "spot reduction" when there actually is no such thing. Your body is going to burn fat from where it wants first.

kylies1219

If you are at a calorie deficit you will lose more muscle if you do not do something to keep it like intense enough strength training.

Just cardio can lead to skinny fat. So watch for it happening.

Depending on what you are doing for strength training, direct ab work is usually not necessary. Depending what kind of things you do for cardio, it may already be working your abs.

I do crunches with weight added, just like any other muscle. 1 or 2 sets of 15 reps per week. I use a lot of resistance.

Cardio burning fat is pretty much a myth as to what most people think is going on. Cardio burns calories. LOWER intensity cardio burns more fat. http://www.myfooddiary.com/resources/ask_the_expert/fat-burning_zone_myth.asp

lol @ skinny fat from just cardio. It explains my teen years

xjlishey1

do both..cardio and weights..

BeeElMarvin

I like doing both cardio and weights.
I also do abs (crunches, planks, sit ups etc.) true, if you are fat in the middle you are building muscle under the fat, but you are also burning calories while doing them - so you will lose weight in all areas.