I need some help with my tummy! *pic included*

kerrilucko

OK, here's the deal, I'm been working on toning via strength training for about 3 weeks now, pretty intensely, and before that too though less intensely. I've notice MAJOR changes and improvements in my arms, thighs, calves and lower back. MAJOR. My my tummy seems to be at a standstill. I really want to be ready and comfortable for bikini season but with my tummy like this I'm really not feelin it.

My tummy is not "big" it's just soft... I'm 5'6" and weigh 142 lbs. My waist is abouot 28" around so no, not that big. But I can't seem to firm up the area. I need some ideas for exercises I can incorporate, especially to tone my lower abs. My upper abs are doing alright with cruches but I obviously need more. I just started doing pilates, which may or may not help, I'm not sure, but since I just started that, obviously no results yet. Does anyone have advice? A bunch of you have posted fab ab shots lately and I am SO jealous. I included this pic just so people don't think I'm whining about nothing, my tummy has genuine problems.

thank you :flowerforyou:

[/img]http://photos.myfitnesspal.com/images/photos/49/255/49255_3282.jpg[img][/img]

kerrilucko

OK, here's the deal, I'm been working on toning via strength training for about 3 weeks now, pretty intensely, and before that too though less intensely. I've notice MAJOR changes and improvements in my arms, thighs, calves and lower back. MAJOR. My my tummy seems to be at a standstill. I really want to be ready and comfortable for bikini season but with my tummy like this I'm really not feelin it.

My tummy is not "big" it's just soft... I'm 5'6" and weigh 142 lbs. My waist is abouot 28" around so no, not that big. But I can't seem to firm up the area. I need some ideas for exercises I can incorporate, especially to tone my lower abs. My upper abs are doing alright with cruches but I obviously need more. I just started doing pilates, which may or may not help, I'm not sure, but since I just started that, obviously no results yet. Does anyone have advice? A bunch of you have posted fab ab shots lately and I am SO jealous. I included this pic just so people don't think I'm whining about nothing, my tummy has genuine problems.

thank you :flowerforyou:

[/img]http://photos.myfitnesspal.com/images/photos/49/255/49255_3282.jpg[img][/img]

Phoenix_Rising

brandnewsummerb

hey! Are you doing cardio along with your strength training? Cardio burns more calories and fat than strength training does on its own...try doing it for at least half an hour if you can! If not, you can work your way up good luck!!!

kerrilucko

thanks Lauren, I don't know why I couldn't get it to post! ugh.

Yes! I do cardio EVERYDAY. Here's my routine:

I do a 2 day rotation.

day 1:
40 mins pilates (just added)

5 mins speed walking (warm up)
15 mins jogging
5 mins speed walking
15 mins jogging
5 mins walking (cool down)

2 sets, 10 reps tricep dips
3 sets, 10 reps, 10lb weight tricep push-downs
2 sets, 7 reps, 10 lb weight, tricep extensions
2 sets, 7 reps, 10 lbs weight, bicep curls (each side)
3 sets, 10 reps, 5 lbs weight, hammercurl (each side)

Day 2:
40 mins pilates (just added)

5 mins speed walking (warm up)
15 mins jogging
5 mins speed walking
15 mins jogging
5 mins walking (cool down)

2 sets, 5 reps (each side) lunge
3 sets, 10 reps, 10 lb weight, squats
3 sets, 10 reps, 30 lb weight, leg press
3 sets, 15 reps, calf raises
3 sets, 10 reps, 25 lb weight, lat pull-downs
3 sets, 15 reps, upper-ab crunches


I do the pilates early in the morning, and the rest in the early evening. I think I really just need some ideas for exercises that concentrate on the ab area. I'm not expecting a 6-pack or anything, I just want a smoother tummer so I can be comfy in a 2-peice bathing suit!

shannahrose

i've been doing a pilates class twice a week for about a year now and i've noticed major differences in my core...just feeling stronger and actually having muscles there when i flex it. so i'm a big believer in pilates!

if you live in a remote area and can't find community classes (i take mine at a small movement and wellness center near my home), i've heard that the windsor pilates series of dvd's is good too. but you have to push yourself. i think i do better in a class setting, because i have to push myself to work as hard as the person next to me :bigsmile: don't wanna look like a wussy!

hope this helps....in addition, my pilates class incorporates planks, bridging, arm weights, ankle weights, stability balls, "bender balls" (which are amazing!!), and resistance bands- which all take the exercises to the next level!

good luck to you kerri and congrats on all your weight loss success! :flowerforyou:

Poison5119

I WISH I had your tummy. I can't even post a pic of my belly, it's that embarrassing! I'm tone all over, and in great shape, but I have so much belly skin hanging and about a 1" layer of fat that it makes me mad. You look AWESOME!!

12by311

I do reverse crunches/leg lift on this stand in my weight room. I also do plate lift ab workouts in the weight room. PLANKS! Do front and side both.

Leg lifts...lay on back, lift legs slowly together, then back down slowly. Just before reaching the ground spread legs with control then back together again and slowly lift legs in the air. Never letting them touch the ground.

jljohnson

I'm working on the same thing Kerri. I'm totally happy with the rest of my body, but I have a soft tummy. Of course, I also have stretch marks to worry about, so you've got a leg up on me there. I'm doing 100 situps (50 normal and 50 bicycle) everyday this month as a start, and then I'm going to start increasing. I've heard that pilates is good for toning, but know nothing for sure from experience. I'm also using a plank hold to work on firming. Unfortunately, I think I have to work off my momma-tummy with cardio before any of my firming exercises will show through. I'm trying some interval training for that. Hope this helps, and I hope others will reply with more ideas.

MyaPapaya75

Have you tried the P90X I know there are some amazing results on here in just 4-6 weeks..I have the set myself BUT lol when I watched the banana roll demonstration I decided I needed to take off some more lbs before trying it.....,

kerrilucko

i've been doing a pilates class twice a week for about a year now and i've noticed major differences in my core...just feeling stronger and actually having muscles there when i flex it. so i'm a big believer in pilates!

if you live in a remote area and can't find community classes (i take mine at a small movement and wellness center near my home), i've heard that the windsor pilates series of dvd's is good too. but you have to push yourself. i think i do better in a class setting, because i have to push myself to work as hard as the person next to me :bigsmile: don't wanna look like a wussy!

hope this helps....in addition, my pilates class incorporates planks, bridging, arm weights, ankle weights, stability balls, "bender balls" (which are amazing!!), and resistance bands- which all take the exercises to the next level!

good luck to you kerri and congrats on all your weight loss success! :flowerforyou:

I think that may be part of my problem. I'd LOVE to take some classes at a gym, but I livein an extremely remote area... all I have access to is my own body and the gym at the school my fiance teaches at. I have a Pilates DVD, which is what I've been working from. I do feel the burn when I'm using it, but like I said I havn't been doing it for long so I know it will take awhile to see results. I'm not really impatient, I just want to make sure I'm doing all I can to help myself along. My fiance (he's a gym teacher and a certified trainer) helps me all he can but he's really not as familiar with the female body and with the exercises I need to do. He's a guy, so it's all about building bulk, whereas with women it's all about slow and steady toning. I'm gonna keep up the pilates and see if that helps. Hey at least I have a starting pic now.

paulamma1

I didn't like to hear this the first time I heard it either, but, "Abs are made in the kitchen".

I guess it goes along with "Exercise for fitness, eat less to lose weight."

You're looking great by the way! I hear you, we both have the same problem area :ohwell:

:flowerforyou:

kerrilucko

Have you tried the P90X I know there are some amazing results on here in just 4-6 weeks..I have the set myself BUT lol when I watched the banana roll demonstration I decided I needed to take off some more lbs before trying it.....,

I have heard of it but I have no idea what it is... I assume it's a DVD workout?

Jenna, at least you can say you have a "momma tummy" I can't :ohwell: no kids, nuthin. I have stretch marks too, they are just more at my hip level, and you can't see them in this photo.

It's just annoying, my tummy was NEVER a problem area for me. It never really got big... so I don't have extra skin there... it's just soft... which I understand is pretty normal for women, and like I said I don't really care for a 6-pack, just a sleek silhouette. :laugh:

MTGirl

For what it's worth Kerri - and probably not that much! - I think your routine sounds great. I would suspect that it will be a time factor. I would think, with your routine and as you work on adding more running that in another 3 - 6 weeks you will be much happier with your tummy area. It takes awhile for that part to "firm up" unlike arms, legs, etc. I think you will see results with what your doing. You know the what and the how and the why - now just to find the patience - let me know where you find it will ya, I could use some myself :grumble: btw - you look amazing!! Congratulations!

hamton

Just keep losing weight. The tummy is usually the last fat storage area. More so for men. You can't really focus train. The body just removes fat where it wants to. You lost 67?! So you know how to lose weight. Just keep at it.

kerrilucko

I do reverse crunches/leg lift on this stand in my weight room. I also do plate lift ab workouts in the weight room. PLANKS! Do front and side both.

Leg lifts...lay on back, lift legs slowly together, then back down slowly. Just before reaching the ground spread legs with control then back together again and slowly lift legs in the air. Never letting them touch the ground.

those sound great, I am going to add the leg lifts and give them a try for sure! How exactly so you do planks? I'm sorry... I'm dumb, I probably know but maybe don't call them that, can someone explain it?

havingitall

Kerri

Look at these sites... they may give you some ideas

http://health.msn.com/fitness/fit-zone

http://www.exrx.net/Beginning.html


And my husband says do leg lifts. Keep your feet 6 inches off the ground while lying down and hold it as long as you can ( he learned this in his kickboxing class)

MTGirl

http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm

Here's a link for the Planks. They are tough - you can start on elbows and knees and work up to elbows and toes, then hands and toes. Have fun!

Phoenix_Rising

No problem Kerri. :flowerforyou:
Your "IMG" needed to be "img". Caps won't work, that's all.

jljohnson

those sound great, I am going to add the leg lifts and give them a try for sure! How exactly so you do planks? I'm sorry... I'm dumb, I probably know but maybe don't call them that, can someone explain it?

Here's a link for the plank... http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm
It's pretty simple. The longer you hold it, the better the burn is.

memaof2

my brother (football coach) taught me this tummy exercise. Sounds easy and it's kind of fun, but you "feel" it the next day!

It takes 2 people

lay on your back with your legs in the air. Someone stand by your head. They take your feet and "push" throw your legs to the ground. You have to stop them before they touch the ground.

kerrilucko

Just keep losing weight. The tummy is usually the last fat storage area. More so for men. You can't really focus train. The body just removes fat where it wants to. You lost 67?! So you know how to lose weight. Just keep at it.

I have a bad feeling that this may be the answer :ohwell: But truthfully I can't lose more than the last 2 lbs on my ticker... at least not until after the summer. If my wedding gown gets taken in anymore than it already has it's going to look like a whole different dress :grumble: . I hope I can make a difference without losing a ton of inches really. that probably sounds dumb but ya... lol.

kerrilucko

http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm

Here's a link for the Planks. They are tough - you can start on elbows and knees and work up to elbows and toes, then hands and toes. Have fun!

ahhhh just from your description I know what they are, I was doing them for awhile actually... not sure why I stopped. I will add them again! thanks!

jljohnson

Here's a link for the plank... http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm
It's pretty simple. The longer you hold it, the better the burn is.

I just looked at this link a little closer, and it's actually part of a list of the top 10 ab exercises. I'm going to check out the other 9 too.

Mom_To_5

I have a few different dvd's, not that i have done them much, trying to get to my goal weight and then tone, i have done them a couple times though and i was sore for the next day or two.
Jillian Michaels 30 day shred
crunchless abs( there are quite a few different ones, had to order them online)
I also just bought MFC for my wii and also have Gold's Gym cardio(haven't opened it yet)
10 min. solutions as well
maybe give them a try and see what happens
Mu hubby also says to leg lifts, not that i have listened to him yet...lol

Good Luck,

sudzie88

http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises.htm

this web site is great, i suggest switching up your routine every few weeks and you'll be happy with the results in a couple months, but will start seeing a change in a week or two!

MyaPapaya75

yes P90X is a set of dvd's...maybe you could make a post and see some of the P90x'ers results ..I saw one not long ago and it was amazing....:drinker: BeachBody.com makes it I believe

star139

planks planks planks!!!!! :flowerforyou:

Adriane007

It sounds like everybody has some good ideas-adding Pilates will definitely help-I took some classes at the gym and right now have been doing the Firm videos 5-6 days a weeks.

Nobody mentioned however one of my FAV things which is a stability ball trainer (not the small hand held ball but the big ball you sit on) I used to use them in step classes at the gym and just on my own-it is one of my favorite ways to do crunches, strectches etc. Put it between your feet and doing the lower leg lift crunches really work your lower abs. Just another suggestion.

You have been doing really awesome and I can definitely see your light shining through on your face. I say keep it up and you'll get there-thanks for being an inspiration!

SHBoss1673

Ker,

I had the same issue, I guess the only thing I can say is it's mostly there now (so close, I'm starting to see the 6-pack) maybe 3 more months and I'll be there!

What did I do? Besides dropping the weight of course.

Well, All kinds of Ab work, including, bicycle crunches, straight hip raises with leg lift aspects to it, Knee raises, lots of planks (work up to 1 minute at a time), plank variations like diagonal lift planks (opposite hand and foot extended). Weighted crunches (make sure to use correct form!), Oblique exercises (resistance bands are great for crossovers and such).

What you need to remember is, it's not about HOW many, it's about how your stomach feels at the end. Your abs should be burning by the time you are done, if they aren't you either weren't contracting while doing the exercise or you had poor form. Doing 80 crunches doesn't do anything for you if you do them with bad form. Put it this way, I only do about 30 to 40 crunches a day, every other day (along with usually 3 to 4 other ab exercises working different subsets of the core muscle group).

I work 4 days a week on my abs, you don't need much time off for abs, small muscle groups recover much faster, so 1 day off is all you need for most. Ironically I only do about 5 to 7 minutes on abs, because that's really all you need to do. My abs are ROCKS now, I'm doing more weighted stuff though, to increase size a bit.

Maybe this will help, I hope so.

-Banks

kerrilucko

thanks guys! :drinker:

I'm going to stick with the pilates in the mornings and add planks and leg lifts to my ab workout every other day. hopefully I see some improvements :bigsmile: