Stomach stregthening exercises?

marm1962

By now a few of you have seen me around, putting my 2 cents worth in here and there. I'm sure this topic has come up a few thousand times, but lets go for a thousand and one.

Not all, but a lot of my weight is in the middle, like a lot of women.

I can, and do, hold my stomach in while I walk so I know the muscles are still there and do actually work....lol.

What I need to know is....are there any exercises that target the stomach muscles and your back. I know all about sit ups and crunches. (might have to find a video on how to do the crunches the right way). Are there any other exercises that I should be looking into to strengthen those muscles?

adopt4

pelvic lifts, heel lifts - do an internet search on ab workouts with photos and you'll see a lot. My trainer does a lot of different ones with me, but they're hard to describe, so I did a search and found all of 'em.... plus more he hasn't done (yet).

marm1962

Thanks, I will look those two up.

Yes, I've searched the internet and that's why I posted the question......lol.

Nothing like a hundred different exercises to get ya going.

Was looking for advice from some folks that have actually done some.

christahollis

A trampoline can be a surprisingly effective way to strengthen your core. Try jumping on one for thirty minutes with a bunch of kids...and you'll find it's a great way to get in some cardio too (and your core will be sore the next day).

marm1962

A trampoline can be a surprisingly effective way to strengthen your core. Try jumping on one for thirty minutes with a bunch of kids...and you'll find it's a great way to get in some cardio too (and your core will be sore the next day).

Thanks for the advice.

Sorry, I need exercises that I can do at home (that do not involve jumping around, rental house is not stable enough for that). The only kids I'm interested in are 1200 miles from me, and I can't afford a gym.

flea

My personal trainer has me doing the plank or prone hold.

Here is a video of how to do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czTvjgiKbDo

Currently I do 3 sets of 30secs with a 30sec break inbetween

I also do crunches 3 sets of 20


I have heard that also just sitting on a swiss ball is good for your stomach as you automatically hold it in to steady yourself on the ball

135gratitude

I love good old fashioned crunches, reverse crunches, and scissors. Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred has some basic abs, while Windsor Pilates DVDs are more complete, and the P90X DVD set has a great ab workout, as does the Chalean Extreme set. You can look for samples of these on You Tube. Tracy Anderson also has some ab stuff, but I find hers a little more for refining.

Hope that helps!
:flowerforyou:

Zara11

hula hoop!

marm1962

Hula Hoop........lmao, I haven't played with one of those since I was about 14. I don't know how much good it is for strengthening, but it sure is fun.

Sorry, folks..........I don't mean to sound *****y, rude, or uncaring (all the things I've been told I sound like when I don't mean to) I cannot download any videos or watch u-tube (well I can if I want to wait forever........, I am among the forgotten..........the dial-up user........lol.

I can't wait to move into a place that can get something besides dial-up.

I am also a beginner in the strength training stuff, I don't want to get buff or have six-pack abs, just firmer muscles.

All the responses have been great though......Thanks a million

135gratitude

If you can't download from You Tube, you can certainly order the DVD's and it might be worth it. Windsor Pilates might be good over all workout for you - a few times a week.

All of these exercises are going to give you pretty basic strengthening results - the only difference between people like us and people with 6 packs is body fat percentage!

Good luck on your fitnesss and wellness pursuits!
:flowerforyou:

marm1962

If you can't download from You Tube, you can certainly order the DVD's and it might be worth it. Windsor Pilates might be good over all workout for you - a few times a week.

All of these exercises are going to give you pretty basic strengthening results - the only difference between people like us and people with 6 packs is body fat percentage!

Good luck on your fitnesss and wellness pursuits!
:flowerforyou:

Cool, thanks for the name of the dvd. I just tried a pelvic tilt and I don't think I did it right......lol, tightened my muscles and nothing moved except my stomach. Oh well, I'll keep trying. Now, off to do an internet search..............

sweetpea03b

a really good resource is Self Magazine. Every month they have a whole insert on exercises of all types with step be step instructions (with pictures) on how to do them. you can pick one up at your local grocery store.

My wii fit has me doing jacknifes which really work. (you are simultaneously lifting legs and arms to create a "V" and then lowering them back down with control) do these in sets of 10 or 20. Also... if you have an exercise ball... try holding it up between your arms and feet and lowering one foot and one arm (on opposite sides) at the same time and then alternate.

Another good exercise.. .I have no idea what they are called... i call them side-to-sides. You hold a weight or a medicine ball with both hands. Sit with your knees bent, feet on the floor. Lean back as far as you can as you sit. Twist your body and move the ball from side to side. Do these in sets of 20. You will feel it the next day.

I can definately feel my ab muscles getting stronger and lean... unfortunately I still have all this fat covering them up! Good luck!

arewethereyet

My personal trainer has me doing the plank or prone hold.

Here is a video of how to do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czTvjgiKbDo

Currently I do 3 sets of 30secs with a 30sec break inbetween

I also do crunches 3 sets of 20


I have heard that also just sitting on a swiss ball is good for your stomach as you automatically hold it in to steady yourself on the ball

That is the one I am doing!! The trainer told me it is so much better than crunches!
Also when you are doing any type of exercise, be it cardio or strength THINK about your abs.
Push ups and oh...............super man for your low back. You have to even out what you do. so if you do stomach you have to do back. I lay on my stomach and 'fly' arms up as high as I can go, head held high, legs up like you are flying.
I do the planks
then do the superman

Whew, my core is getting strong!!!

I have done core/abs since I started. When the weight got down, I wanted muscles to look at and I DO!!

Good for you !!

FireMonkey

Yoga is also very good for balance and core strengthening, and you can do it anywhere, don't even really need a mat although it's nicer.

ltfrombc

I am using pilates to strengthen my core. I have only been using it for two weeks, but I think I feel/see a difference. The only challenge I am having is with the correct breathing and knowing when to inhale and exhale on a movement. Seems I do it backwards to what the Pilates DVD says and I know this is true as one of my yoga dvd's says the same thing. Who knew - that you could go through life not knowing how to breath correctly when doing core exercises. LOL

keiko

I like pilates since it is all about core strengthening. I have a Denise Austin one that I do 2 or 3 times a week.
But remember the only way to get rid of the fat is cardio, cardio, cardio. And of course continuing to watch what we eat.:flowerforyou:

SHBoss1673

Core strength is great.

there are 4 main muscle groups in the core:

Abdominal rectus (upper and lower, those are your "6 pack" muscles)
Obliques
and
Lower Back

All 4 need to be trained for you to have a strong core.

a combination of crunches (correct form please, google crunch form for correctness, otherwise you can hurt your back), twisting exercises like bicycle crunches, side planks, hip raises, and either a bosu ball or a fitness ball will do wonders for the core. Remember, the core is a relatively thin, supportive muscle set, so you don't need lots of weight or really high reps to get them in shape. Stabilizer muscles like the core just need work 2 to 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to be properly trained.

arewethereyet

Core strength is great.

there are 4 main muscle groups in the core:

Abdominal rectus (upper and lower, those are your "6 pack" muscles)
Obliques
and
Lower Back

All 4 need to be trained for you to have a strong core.

a combination of crunches (correct form please, google crunch form for correctness, otherwise you can hurt your back), twisting exercises like bicycle crunches, side planks, hip raises, and either a bosu ball or a fitness ball will do wonders for the core. Remember, the core is a relatively thin, supportive muscle set, so you don't need lots of weight or really high reps to get them in shape. Stabilizer muscles like the core just need work 2 to 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to be properly trained.

Oh good, I have been doing it right WOOT!!

Zara11

Core strength is great.

there are 4 main muscle groups in the core:

Abdominal rectus (upper and lower, those are your "6 pack" muscles)
Obliques
and
Lower Back

All 4 need to be trained for you to have a strong core.

a combination of crunches (correct form please, google crunch form for correctness, otherwise you can hurt your back), twisting exercises like bicycle crunches, side planks, hip raises, and either a bosu ball or a fitness ball will do wonders for the core. Remember, the core is a relatively thin, supportive muscle set, so you don't need lots of weight or really high reps to get them in shape. Stabilizer muscles like the core just need work 2 to 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to be properly trained.

What's the best fitness DVD for this? I should do this 3x a week.

SHBoss1673

Core strength is great.

there are 4 main muscle groups in the core:

Abdominal rectus (upper and lower, those are your "6 pack" muscles)
Obliques
and
Lower Back

All 4 need to be trained for you to have a strong core.

a combination of crunches (correct form please, google crunch form for correctness, otherwise you can hurt your back), twisting exercises like bicycle crunches, side planks, hip raises, and either a bosu ball or a fitness ball will do wonders for the core. Remember, the core is a relatively thin, supportive muscle set, so you don't need lots of weight or really high reps to get them in shape. Stabilizer muscles like the core just need work 2 to 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to be properly trained.

What's the best fitness DVD for this? I should do this 3x a week.

dunno, it would be a very short DVD if there was one. You really don't need one, as basically you can google all of these exercises and since it's only 5 to 10 minutes it's really not worth a dvd.

arewethereyet

Core strength is great.

there are 4 main muscle groups in the core:

Abdominal rectus (upper and lower, those are your "6 pack" muscles)
Obliques
and
Lower Back

All 4 need to be trained for you to have a strong core.

a combination of crunches (correct form please, google crunch form for correctness, otherwise you can hurt your back), twisting exercises like bicycle crunches, side planks, hip raises, and either a bosu ball or a fitness ball will do wonders for the core. Remember, the core is a relatively thin, supportive muscle set, so you don't need lots of weight or really high reps to get them in shape. Stabilizer muscles like the core just need work 2 to 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes to be properly trained.

Oh good, I have been doing it right WOOT!!

and those hip raises are working every muscle in my abdoman, and back!! that with my planks and I will do nothing else!!:drinker: