tummy toning

AZackery

Try incorporating Tae Bo Insane Abs into your routine.

http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/billy-blanks-tae-bo-insane-abs-5939

LiftHuff

*sigh*

You are not going to get muscled enough to look like a man unless you take steroids. it will NOT happen. your body does not have enough natural testosterone to do that.

If you eat at maintenance or at a slight deficit, without adjustment, and do something like Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5, and stop worrying about cardio nonsense to create a bigger deficit etc etc...I PROMISE you that the results will be exactly what you want. Your body will cannibalize the bodyfat stores in order to generate muscle needed to keep up with the training program, and it will only take you about 3 hours a week for the first month or two. After that it may take you 4.5 hours a WEEK.

Feel free to blow me off, it happens all the time, but it works.

HisJellyBean

*sigh*

You are not going to get muscled enough to look like a man unless you take steroids. it will NOT happen. your body does not have enough natural testosterone to do that.

If you eat at maintenance or at a slight deficit, without adjustment, and do something like Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5, and stop worrying about cardio nonsense to create a bigger deficit etc etc...I PROMISE you that the results will be exactly what you want. Your body will cannibalize the bodyfat stores in order to generate muscle needed to keep up with the training program, and it will only take you about 3 hours a week for the first month or two. After that it may take you 4.5 hours a WEEK.

Feel free to blow me off, it happens all the time, but it works.

Thanks for the advice.. the thing with my body is that I have PCOS with means I have a higher level of male hormones that's why Im worried about looking like those buff man chicks. as for the advice I will do more strength training.. But As for my cardio I can stop with that.. I do dance cardio I love to dance

Yanicka1

*sigh*

You are not going to get muscled enough to look like a man unless you take steroids. it will NOT happen. your body does not have enough natural testosterone to do that.

If you eat at maintenance or at a slight deficit, without adjustment, and do something like Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5, and stop worrying about cardio nonsense to create a bigger deficit etc etc...I PROMISE you that the results will be exactly what you want. Your body will cannibalize the bodyfat stores in order to generate muscle needed to keep up with the training program, and it will only take you about 3 hours a week for the first month or two. After that it may take you 4.5 hours a WEEK.

Feel free to blow me off, it happens all the time, but it works.

Thanks for the advice.. the thing with my body is that I have PCOS with means I have a higher level of male hormones that's why Im worried about looking like those buff man chicks. as for the advice I will do more strength training.. But As for my cardio I can stop with that.. I do dance cardio I love to dance

I have PCOS too and believe me I have higher testosterone but still didn't get bulky.

HisJellyBean

*sigh*

You are not going to get muscled enough to look like a man unless you take steroids. it will NOT happen. your body does not have enough natural testosterone to do that.

If you eat at maintenance or at a slight deficit, without adjustment, and do something like Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5, and stop worrying about cardio nonsense to create a bigger deficit etc etc...I PROMISE you that the results will be exactly what you want. Your body will cannibalize the bodyfat stores in order to generate muscle needed to keep up with the training program, and it will only take you about 3 hours a week for the first month or two. After that it may take you 4.5 hours a WEEK.

Feel free to blow me off, it happens all the time, but it works.

Thanks for the advice.. the thing with my body is that I have PCOS with means I have a higher level of male hormones that's why Im worried about looking like those buff man chicks. as for the advice I will do more strength training.. But As for my cardio I can stop with that.. I do dance cardio I love to dance

I have PCOS too and believe me I have higher testosterone but still didn't get bulky.

That's good to know.. Thanks for sharing

Jesse535

Muscle *doesn't* weigh more than fat. 1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat. Muscle is more dense than fat though.

2April

Muscle *doesn't* weigh more than fat. 1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat. Muscle is more dense than fat though.

So muscle does weigh more per unit volume.

sarah44254

I want some muscle but there's two things.. Muscle weighs more than fat and I really need the weight off good weight or bad weight its still weight. and two I want a little muscle but I don't wanna look like those chicks that have so much muscles they look like men.

I agree you won't end up looking like the chicks you are referring to.
I believe that if you are curious about weight lifting, you should by all means start now. It will encourage your body to drop fat, which will result in a lower weight for you and overall better health. Adding muscle weight and losing fat weight won't be so dramatic that it will halt your weight loss, instead it will likely do quite the opposite and really show some outstanding changes in your shape as the loss continues on its merry way.

So if you are interested, give it a try! Yanicka I would have had no idea you have PCOS - you look outstanding and like you have no struggles at all :laugh:

grapenutSF

I agree with the suggestion to lift weights. Its a fabulous fat burner, that's the main reason. I've noticed a dramatic difference in the amount of fat on my body since I've started. And I've read the details about why (see New Rules of Lifting).

But it's also wicked motivating. I love cardio classes (shhhh, dont tell), but the truth is i see less improvement from those, both in terms of weight loss but also just straight up advancement. But when i lift, i get a rush from getting to lift a little more this time than last time. and a little more the next time. and i get to brag about it (on here mainly). it's all very reinforcing. And the best exercise is one you'll stick with.

And I don't look like a boy cuz I stay away from the juice.

Clarisse0304

Try Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred, its a total body workout and it tones your tummy at the same time. It's just great!! Try it and you will never regret it!

go_getter89

Try planking or lay on your back and put hands behind head like a sit up but only go halfway up. It works your abs like a full sit up bacause you are using only your abs not your thighs.

whitetiger011680

Also try leg raises - lying flat on you back raise your legs up and down, imagine that your core is a lever pumping the up and down.

Hope that helps!

I lost about 50 pounds before every trying any sit ups. They're still a little difficult but I do as manny as I can and I also do leg raises which are great for the lower belly.

Plutina

This is nothing to feel embarrassed about, your putting in the effort which is a wonderful thing, i wasn't very good with the whole exercise thing when i first started, you just need to find the exercises that work best for you. A great new way ive found to do ab crunches in a much comfortable way is to lie flat on the ground, raise both legs in the air and try touch your toes (i.e smooth your hands up your legs, to where you feel most comfortable), then go back down. I would start by doing 10 of these in a set of 3. I have newly started this and seeing the effects and find it much easier than other crunches.
Hope this helps =D
Sara xx

kimchi84

Planks are HUGE core builders. I was in a class the other day doing assessments and we tried to see who could hold the plank position the longest. I did but I tell you what, my abs were SOOOO sore the next day.

i agree, i love doing planks, its a total body workout in itself.

HisJellyBean

Try Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred, its a total body workout and it tones your tummy at the same time. It's just great!! Try it and you will never regret it!

I did the 30 day shred for 3 month's last year and took off 30 pounds

HisJellyBean

This is nothing to feel embarrassed about, your putting in the effort which is a wonderful thing, i wasn't very good with the whole exercise thing when i first started, you just need to find the exercises that work best for you. A great new way ive found to do ab crunches in a much comfortable way is to lie flat on the ground, raise both legs in the air and try touch your toes (i.e smooth your hands up your legs, to where you feel most comfortable), then go back down. I would start by doing 10 of these in a set of 3. I have newly started this and seeing the effects and find it much easier than other crunches.
Hope this helps =D
Sara xx

Thanks I will try it.

ATLMel

I'll just add another vote to throwing in weight lifting. Even at my lowest weight while I was training for HMarathons/Marathons pretty much constantly I hated the fat left on my stomach. I had very little core strength to speak of.

Now, with under 3 hours of lifting a week I am finally seeing differences in the strength, function, and appearance of my core area.. The cardio is awesome and necessary (IMO) but the weight lifting will build that lean mass that is going to continue burning calories.

Don't believe me, believe the Institute for Sports Medicine and the Journal of Obesity: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobes/2011/482564/

nz_deevaa

Lifting heavy will help, and as another person with PCOS you won't bulk up.

Try planks and leg raises until you are ready to lift.

sunshinesonata

I want some muscle but there's two things.. Muscle weighs more than fat and I really need the weight off good weight or bad weight its still weight. and two I want a little muscle but I don't wanna look like those chicks that have so much muscles they look like men.

I have muscle.. I'm stronger than my dad... But its surrounded in fat and that's the problem.

1. ) Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of muscle is still a pound. Just like a pound of fat is still a pound. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat.
2. ) You're not going to 'look like a man' because women don't produce the same amount of testosterone as men to build muscle like men, unless you're taking steroids, or testosterone supplements.

My advice to you is to continue your cardio regimen, and start introducing weight lifting. Follow your current diet plan, and make sure that you're drinking enough water. Be honest with yourself and your eating habits, and you'll see the results that you want in time.

KarensCanDoIt

Physical fitness of any kind takes me out of my 'comfort zone'. I've never been active my entire life. I've been doing exercises at home to gain some strength. (lunges, knee bends, some arm work with dumb bells, etc.). I have definitely noticed a difference, and it's a great feeling.

The other day I saw a post on here about the 200 sit up challenge. So, I looked into it. It seems to me that it should be named the 200 crunch challenge when you read their description of "What is a Sit Up?" Nevertheless I'm trying it just for kicks.

I could barely do 5 crunches on my initial test, and now I'm up to about 30. Take a peak at the website and see if you want to try it. It's not time consuming at all, and you'll definitely feel it in your abs. http://www.twohundredsitups.com

Good luck!

engineman312

btw, check out the story of this girl here: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/ read her blog posts regarding losing 135lbs, and her struggles.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

You have far too much weight to lose to even begin to concern yourself with problem areas. Just focus on dropping pounds, for now.

Wise. Honestly, you don't start seeing ab definition until you're down to like 18% body fat or less. Strength is important, however, so try a weighted ab machine, some planks, and keep plugging away at the crunches. Normally I say that actually training abs isn't important because you work them every time you brace your core, but if your overall functional strength is low you really do have to work them. Also, don't do it every day, they're a muscle and just like every other muscle in your body they need every other day off.

I agree with lifting, I think it will help you reach your goals (it certainly helped me reach mine). More muscle means a higher resting metabolism at an equal weight. Eating at a deficit will help keep you from getting competitition ready. I don't see any reason to stop your cardio, if you like it than you should do it. Many people love their lifting routines (as do I), but I also love running and my group fitness classes. I do what I do because I enjoy it, not because must.

HeidiMightyRawr

I agree with the others about lifting.

The reason many people say muscle weighs more than fat is because for the same amount of space it takes up, it does, as it's more dense. However, when you are in a deficit and losing weight (fat) you are not going to be gaining muscle at the same rate you are losing fat! So you will still lose weight, don't worry.
Most people don't gain muscle at all while on a deficit, the best they can hope for is to maintain their muscle mass (as most people, without lifting, lose muscle as well as fat while they lose scale weight) However, as you have quite a bit to lose, and you would be new to lifting, you may find you gain some muscle while on a deficit, this will not last that long, and as I said before it will be nowhere near the same rate you are losing fat.

As far as the high testosterone levels go, even a woman who has very high levels of testosterone, is still going to have less, than the men who have low testosterone. I just looked it up and the normal range for a man is 200-1200 ng./dl. The normal amount for a woman is 15 - 70 ng./dl. As you can see 200 (low for a man) is still significantly higher than 70 (high for a woman)

BeeElMarvin

This is BY FAR, the most informative thread ever! Kudos to all contributors! Amazing.

HisJellyBean

Thanks to everyone for all the comments and the links!

DBBA21

bump

gordonx4

This is really embarrassing but I cant do a sit up I get a few inches off the ground and cant pull myself up any higher... I try but it just don't work. Is there something I can do to tone my tummy other than sit ups? This girl needs abs lol

What every one is saying here is true, your not really going to see anything until your body fat count comes down. I have the same problem. After a long illness and losing a lot of muscle, I got a free trial (8 days) at a UFC gym. I had a chance to spend about 2 hours with a personal trainer and this is what he had me do to start getting my abs and arms strong again.

Start on your hands and knees, put your feet on something about 6" off the ground so you don't use them for this exercise. Move you hands forward so your knees are at an angle (as you get stronger make the angle deeper so your in a knee plank position). Now pull your stomach in to your back as hard as you can, angle your butt up for 15 seconds, then slowly relax all the way to the floor for 5 seconds then again slowly back up and in. I did 10 repetitions and it felt really good at the time but the next day I was sore. this is a good way to start strengthening your arms and stomach and is low impact so you don't hurt your neck or your back trying to do sit-ups.

nz_deevaa

btw, check out the story of this girl here: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/ read her blog posts regarding losing 135lbs, and her struggles.

Is she on MFP? I read her blog all the time! LOL.