What's the BEST way to tone my back and my abs???

LelliAmi

So I really want to tone my back and my abs, but I heard that doing ab exercises doesn't help...is that true? What's the best way to lose weight and tone up those two particular areas?

RenCara

I believe Planks are the best way to tone the abs, hands down. Planks also help with the back but I tend to use weights or a kettle bell and do various 'lifting' excercises when focusing on my back.

Good luck!

Dexy_

If your body fat % is down into a good range (which I assume it is as you're looking at toning, go you!), ab exercises will help tone your abs. As for your back, not sure what exercise can target there.

darbym7

you can't 'target' one specific area. you just have to lose weight all over. but you CAN tone. I'm still working on this myself, so ill love seeing what people have to say. But as for me, I just like to do reverse crunches, torso twists, etc.

thinby40

Pilates is a good workout for your abs and back...I went to a class today and it was all focused on abs, back, and legs too!

LorinaLynn

There's, sadly, no such thing as spot reduction.

But I will say that eating with a smaller deficit and exercising regularly did a LOT more for me than just severely limiting my food.

Years ago, I was around 145 or so and wanted to get to 130. I thought the only way to lose weight was to eat very little, and I typically ate between 800-1000 calories a day. When I got to 130 (and it took for-freakin'-ever... I typically lost no more than a half pound a week) I was so disappointed that I still had a tummy and back fat that I thought, "Screw this. There's no way I can possibly eat less!" So I quit.

This time around, I wasn't focused on the scale (because I already believed I couldn't lose weight) and focused instead on learning to run. Then I started doing EA Sports Active 2 on the playstation to have a little bit of resistance/strength training. I did best with my calorie goals between 1350 and 1500, plus exercise calories, so I typically ate about 1800 a day. So... twice as much as I was eating years ago. And I had way better results. Typically 1# a week, sometimes more. And I looked leaner at 140 this time than I looked at 130 last time. At 130, I was able to fit into jeans I wore in high school at 110#!

Now, I still run, and strength train, too. The key, I believe, though, is trying to lose body fat while retaining as much muscle mass as possible, and that's best done with a smaller calorie deficit. (And lots of protein!)

MercenaryNoetic26

By working your WHOLE body. Back exercises: Lat Pulldowns, Seated Rows, Deadlifts, Back Extensions, Bent Over Rows, Pull-Up (assisted or not)... I'm sure you know many ab exercises already. You can work them all you want, but it depends on your body fat whether or not they show. You sure won't get abs if you don't work em'.

LesliePierceRN

Running really burns the fat around the belly.. and exercises that strengthen the core work the best for abs and back.. one really good, cheap on is the wheels on a sick, where you get on your knees and roll it out away from you and back in. Supermans are really good for core too.

aekaya

You can add toning exercises to your cardio routine - you can build all the muscles you want, but you need cardio to burn off the fat that covers those muscles.

Here's a link I love, an exercise finder that targets specific body parts: http://www.divine.ca/en/fitness-and-nutrition/exercise-finder/c_266/

Also, you could add some pop pilates to your routine! Here's the workout for abs (and to vouch for PP, I will say that her arms workout changed my arms forever): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od0j4aNDGKM

LelliAmi

These are all really good tips. Thanks ,everyone, for your advice!!

Rayman79

By working your WHOLE body. Back exercises: Lat Pulldowns, Seated Rows, Deadlifts, Back Extensions, Bent Over Rows, Pull-Up (assisted or not)...

This. Don't fall into the vanity trap and over work one group of muscles over the other. Make sure you work out your back and front muscles (more or less) evenly.

That said, try standing bent over rows with barbell or dumbells to exercise the back. It uses the lower back and abs to stabilise you, and gives you a great upper back workout. You can vary the grip width and orientation of the hands (ie overhand, underhand or mixed grip) to add variation and work the muscles slightly differently.

metisgirl

Hip Hop Abs video is great, fun and full of energy....