Built like my dad. Help!!

MoreThanMommie

So, the stomach. I'm going to section it off as, bellybutton up, and bellybutton down. Now, like my father, I'm larger, bellybutton up. Bellybutton down, I'm pretty flat. *I know, this is a trouble spot for most women. I'm sorry* My problem is doing regular crunches or sit ups, on the ground, on a ball, whatever, isn't working for me. I don't feel them in my ab muscles I just feel it in my neck. So I must be doing them wrong. Please help me. I feel like I have no ab muscles at all. I can't seem to 'feel' anything I try.

Please. I really need to feel like my stomach and boobs are separate. :sad:

mrau719

Yea if you feel them in your neck you're doing them wrong. You're not pulling yourself with your abs, but instead with your neck. I used to be hang my head up doing crunches to make sure I was using my abs.

Also look in to some yoga poses for core.

MoreThanMommie

Alright. Good idea! I'll look up some yoga poses for abs.

Any other ideas??

AmyLRed

i have a big belly too, like my dad! I have been exercising regularly with some amount of ab work consistently for 5 months and i couldnt even make my "top abs" engage and feel sore until the last 2 weeks! I think my core was just so week and those muscles so deep in fat, that i couldnt feel them at all, and i was inadvertently using other muscles to make up for it (my neck, etc)
For me, it was really time! I didnt think they were ever going to even feel sore while exercising.

TinaDay1114

When I started doing a whole-body circuit training class (lots of lunges, planks, weights, push-ups, burpees, etc.) my core got a lot stronger. I also felt the ab work mostly in my neck at first, but as I concentrated just on form (and not reps) and got a little stronger, things took off. Getting over that initial hump when you've had no core work before is the hardest part. Go slow, keep at it, and it gets better.

I've tried other ab workouts before (that just target abs), and never had much luck. I think the whole body approach w/some ab work is the best thing. Leans you out, gets your core, and everything comes together.

Good luck!

MoreThanMommie

Okay, so work total body and the abs with follow along. Good. Very helpful. Thanks! :flowerforyou: