Ab exercises for women?

2»

Replies

  • aryya
    aryya Posts: 33 Member
    Agreed with all, "Abs are made in the kitchen" - no word of a lie ;) I haven't met a person with epic abs and obliques who doesn't eat squeaky clean! ;)

    BUT, I also agree that if you want abs, you have to have some muscle underneath the 'top layer' that will show through once that layer is gone. I personally do not like planks (i have a very short attention span) so i do things such as mountain climbers (yes i know this is cardio, but you sure feel it in your core), pushups, lunges, SQUATS, DEADS, scissor/flutter kicks, reverse crunches, hip raises, v-sits, wood choppers, and a whole bucket full of other things ;) Some of the previously mentioned things work your core as a 'secondary' muscle group, but as many have said, give me some heavy squats and deads, and you for sure will get a strong core on you. ;)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    I am losing weight. I guess I chose my words wrong. I want to strengthen my abs, tone if you will. I am losing the weight so I know that will go down, but I need to tone and strengthen.

    We know what you meant. And our answers remain the same
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    grab a broomstick and place it behind your neck resting there and keep lower body straight and twist from side to side.

    Please don't do this. It can really screw up your back. (We used to do it at softball but its stopped beig used years ago)

    But putting the broom in your hands, and sweeping it side to side, is awesome ab work for women. :laugh: As long as it is followed by bending over with the dust pan, sweeping into dustpan, then lifting dustpan to empty out in the garbage.

    Some other good exercises are: vacuuming, dusting, cooking, and cleaning up after the kids. :laugh:

    Must be single.......

    Nope. I got married, again, last March.

    Cleaning is good exercise. You can't really spot reduce fat, so every physical activity you can do will help get rid of your belly fat.... as long as you stay in a caloric deficit. From cleaning to playing with the kids, to playing with the spouse, shopping, or whatever you do in the gym will all help you achieve that caloric deficit to lose body fat.

    Cleaning is N.E.A.T. :bigsmile:
  • xxTracey
    xxTracey Posts: 85 Member
    How do you lose weight from your stomach area then? I carry all my weight there, i actually have very skinny arms and legs haha but can never seem to get rid of belly fat, so if toning excercises won't work what will? Even when i got down to 7st 4lbs i still had belly fat, im now 8st 5lbs trying to get back down to 7st 4lbs but i thought last time i just wasnt excersing enough, but you have all basically just said that won't work so what will? lol. x
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    What's with the 'for women' part? Women should train the same as men..... And there is no spot reducing. You can do all the ab work you want but it's not going to target your midsection and make you lose more weight there. An overall strength training routine and cardio will help more. As far as ab exercises....my favorite to add in are cable wood choppers, decline reverse crunches, weighted cable crunches, and weighted side bends.
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    How do you lose weight from your stomach area then? I carry all my weight there, i actually have very skinny arms and legs haha but can never seem to get rid of belly fat, so if toning excercises won't work what will? Even when i got down to 7st 4lbs i still had belly fat, im now 8st 5lbs trying to get back down to 7st 4lbs but i thought last time i just wasnt excersing enough, but you have all basically just said that won't work so what will? lol. x
    You need to look into a better strength routine for your whole body. Stop messing with the popular 'toning' exercises advertised towards women and lift heavy. You can't lose weight from specific areas but weight training is the best tool for body composition changes.
  • xxTracey
    xxTracey Posts: 85 Member
    But i don't want my arms and legs to be any thinner, i just want to be in proportion, which im not bcause my stomach carries all my weight. I'm not interested in any sort of muscle mass, i just want my stomach to be slimmer to be moe in proportion with the rest of my body lol. x
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    But i don't want my arms and legs to be any thinner, i just want to be in proportion, which im not bcause my stomach carries all my weight. I'm not interested in any sort of muscle mass, i just want my stomach to be slimmer to be moe in proportion with the rest of my body lol. x

    If you are carrying "all" your fat in your stomach, then losing fat will make your stomach smaller. :flowerforyou:
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Hey ya'll! I'm trying to do my best to lose the flab around my midsection. Can anyone recommend some exercises? Other than the regular crunches. Thanks!!

    Sadly you can't spot reduce:sad: As your body continues to lose weight and shed fat your belly will get smaller. Unless genetically you're prone to store fat in that area. However exercise does wonderful things to your body! Strength training in particular! Isolated ab work (although i LOVE it and continue to do it)...is not that effective. Lifting heavy weights using compound moves is the way to go to get results. Check out the book 'new rules of lifting for women' for more info. Cardio is awesome for burning calories....but did skimp on the strength training!

Categories