Weightlifting and the "core"

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Maryaly40
Maryaly40 Posts: 551 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been lifting for a few months now and I'm seeing great improvement in my arms, thighs, calves, my booty but my core is really p'ing me off! I have about 10 more lbs to lose so I know "it" (my core) will flatten more by then. So here's my question, what weight-related exercises can I do to help with my core? Any suggestions?????
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  • Maryaly40
    Maryaly40 Posts: 551 Member
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    Guess I should have chosen a better header :frown:
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
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    I've been lifting for a few months now and I'm seeing great improvement in my arms, thighs, calves, my booty but my core is really p'ing me off! I have about 10 more lbs to lose so I know "it" (my core) will flatten more by then. So here's my question, what weight-related exercises can I do to help with my core? Any suggestions?????

    None will specifically target it for fat loss, but to strengthen it, exercises like planks, deadlifts, squats etc will do the trick
  • Maryaly40
    Maryaly40 Posts: 551 Member
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    Thank you! Squats...is there a difference doing them on the Smith machine or doing body squats holding a weight in front of you. (That's how I do them now)
  • mcrowe1016
    mcrowe1016 Posts: 647 Member
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    I've been lifting for a few months now and I'm seeing great improvement in my arms, thighs, calves, my booty but my core is really p'ing me off! I have about 10 more lbs to lose so I know "it" (my core) will flatten more by then. So here's my question, what weight-related exercises can I do to help with my core? Any suggestions?????

    None will specifically target it for fat loss, but to strengthen it, exercises like planks, deadlifts, squats etc will do the trick

    Planks, deadlifts and squats are the best that I have heard of.....though my abs do not look as good as his :blushing:
  • 1SlimShaylee
    1SlimShaylee Posts: 204
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    acg is right!! PLANK all the way!!! seriously i do yoga 3x a week and just from that i have NOTICEABLE definition in my obliques! and you can do more than just hold plank, you can bring your knee to the opposite and same shoulder, or lift one leg up and pulse it... there are tons of great exercises!!


    i also do squats, deadlifts, and lunges like he mentioned, but i haven't been doing them long enough to give them the credit they deserve! good luck babe!
  • 1SlimShaylee
    1SlimShaylee Posts: 204
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    Thank you! Squats...is there a difference doing them on the Smith machine or doing body squats holding a weight in front of you. (That's how I do them now)


    i do lots of barbell a.k.a. back squats. you can youtube it for proper directions
  • Juliejustsaying
    Juliejustsaying Posts: 2,332 Member
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    I've been lifting for a few months now and I'm seeing great improvement in my arms, thighs, calves, my booty but my core is really p'ing me off! I have about 10 more lbs to lose so I know "it" (my core) will flatten more by then. So here's my question, what weight-related exercises can I do to help with my core? Any suggestions?????

    None will specifically target it for fat loss, but to strengthen it, exercises like planks, deadlifts, squats etc will do the trick

    Planks, deadlifts and squats are the best that I have heard of.....though my abs do not look as good as his :blushing:

    Those are some mighty fine abs...I've been doing every ab machine, plus tons of crunches at every angel..and the obliques machine fo sho...mine are coming along fine, though not quite to where I want them.
  • T_X_L
    T_X_L Posts: 140 Member
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    Any machine that helps stabilize your body means those secondary stabilizer muscles aren't getting worked like they should. I suggest reading books in the "New Rules of Lifting" series by Alwyn Cosgrove.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,669 Member
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    Compound lifts and isometric training will "harden" them, but losing fat is more dependent on calorie deficit.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Maryaly40
    Maryaly40 Posts: 551 Member
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    You guys are awesome!!! I do do all the above, but I will do more plank exercises. I do an oblique twist (Jillian's way), maybe add some more. Atleast I know now that I'm on the right path and I just need to be patient. Thanks again everybody :flowerforyou:
  • apj79
    apj79 Posts: 23 Member
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    What are deadlifts?
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
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    Thank you! Squats...is there a difference doing them on the Smith machine or doing body squats holding a weight in front of you. (That's how I do them now)

    Donlt use smith machine for squatting. If you are going to do anything with it do Bulgarian split squats. Barbell back squats would be best. You can also do hammer grip dumbbell squats where you hold the dumbells up at your shoulders with hammer grip.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
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    Maybe check out this book - The New Rules Of Lifting For Abs: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Rules-Lifting-Abs/dp/1583334130

    I checked it out from my library first, then found it for a good price on Amazon. Haven't actually started the program yet because I don't have all the equipment I need and because I'm doing other things at the moment, but it's a great book and might be what you're looking for.
  • Plates559
    Plates559 Posts: 869 Member
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    What are deadlifts?

    Oh here, let me do that for you

    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+are+deadlifts
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    I've been lifting for a few months now and I'm seeing great improvement in my arms, thighs, calves, my booty but my core is really p'ing me off! I have about 10 more lbs to lose so I know "it" (my core) will flatten more by then. So here's my question, what weight-related exercises can I do to help with my core? Any suggestions?????

    None will specifically target it for fat loss, but to strengthen it, exercises like planks, deadlifts, squats etc will do the trick

    agreed.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    Thank you! Squats...is there a difference doing them on the Smith machine or doing body squats holding a weight in front of you. (That's how I do them now)

    Yes. Form and stabilizing muscles mostly. You'll engage more muscles doing free weight squats than you will with a smith.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    Compound lifts and isometric training will "harden" them, but losing fat is more dependent on calorie deficit.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    yep yep
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    What are deadlifts?

    Mark Rippetoe explains...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syt7A23YnpA
  • Maryaly40
    Maryaly40 Posts: 551 Member
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    Thank you! Squats...is there a difference doing them on the Smith machine or doing body squats holding a weight in front of you. (That's how I do them now)

    Donlt use smith machine for squatting. If you are going to do anything with it do Bulgarian split squats. Barbell back squats would be best. You can also do hammer grip dumbbell squats where you hold the dumbells up at your shoulders with hammer grip.

    I'm gonna try the hammer grip dumbbell squats tonight!
  • ars1300
    ars1300 Posts: 159 Member
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    Planks are good. I have gotten results from using kettlebells also.

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