Keeping your core tight during workouts

melhayes1115
melhayes1115 Posts: 187 Member
edited December 16 in Fitness and Exercise
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to keep my core tight when I workout. I really have to concentrate which I feel is taking away from my workout. Any suggestions on how I can do this? I know I can have a nice, flat stomach soon if I could just get the hang of this.

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    what excercises specifically are you having trouble keeping it tight during?
  • Teksavvy
    Teksavvy Posts: 133 Member
    I do exercises where I force my core to be tight or else I'd tip over and/or crumble like paper. These are plank, squats and pilates.
  • melhayes1115
    melhayes1115 Posts: 187 Member
    what excercises specifically are you having trouble keeping it tight during?

    All of them. I am doing Insanity right now and it seems as if any time I start a new exercise, I relax my core.
  • samthomason
    samthomason Posts: 46 Member
    Bump; No help to you, but I feel the exact same way, so I'd like to hear what everyone else says.
  • genuinelyfrans
    genuinelyfrans Posts: 584
    I would like to hear what everyone else says as well. I have issues keeping more core tight because I honestly don't really know how to (I thought it was holding your breath so your stomach is tight but I am probably wrong).
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    Keep in mind that you're not "flexing" the ab muscles. It really jus means keep you back straight, chest out, etc. It's not much toworry about
  • sarah692
    sarah692 Posts: 136 Member
    I would like to hear what everyone else says as well. I have issues keeping more core tight because I honestly don't really know how to (I thought it was holding your breath so your stomach is tight but I am probably wrong).

    Don't hold your breath! Breathing is pretty important during exercise :P
  • Suheyramos
    Suheyramos Posts: 1
    Hey everyone, My husabnd and I are doing Insanity and I wasnt sure if I was tighting my core and I saw a blog that stated if you are not sure whether or not your holding in your stomach, LAUGH!! You tighten your stomach when you laugh. So do that throughout your workout to make sure your tightening it..Hope this helps!!!:wink::wink: :wink:
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    You actually want to be careful with how much you contract your ab's. There's been write-ups that indicate how doing this can put too much pressure on the spine and actually cause issues.
  • lalio206
    lalio206 Posts: 1
    I read on a post that you needed help on keeping your core tight during workouts so I'll give it my best shot to explain to you how to flex. I have plenty of friends that didn't really know how to flex and the best way I taught them to learn was by standing in front of them and saying "ready? Im going to punch you in the stomach?" of course this threw them off guard and when I went in for a slight punch to their gut they automatically flexed. Which basically means their stomach became hard to protect themselves from the punch.

    I'm not really sure if you understand what I'm saying or not but just give it a try and it will make perfect sense. Have a friend punch you lightly on your stomach and if all goes well you should automatically "flex." Then try it a few times just so that you get used to the feeling of flexing. If your doing this right you should feel a light burning sensation progress with the amount of time you flex.
    Keep practicing and good luck!

    Hope this helped you out.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    Keep in mind that you're not "flexing" the ab muscles. It really jus means keep you back straight, chest out, etc. It's not much toworry about

    ^^ this
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Keep in mind that you're not "flexing" the ab muscles. It really jus means keep you back straight, chest out, etc. It's not much toworry about

    ^^ this

    Yup.

    Keep practicing. Eventually it'll feel natural.
  • vcardarelli
    vcardarelli Posts: 5
    wow Ive been researching this topic for a few days now and I believe thanks to your answer, I finally got it!! =)
    Thanks again
  • vcardarelli
    vcardarelli Posts: 5
    :happy:
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