Sit ups question

mcibty
mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
edited January 24 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All,

Similar to my question this morning about weight training and seeing a difference on your arms. In your experience, when did you personally feel a difference from doing sit ups every day? Don't worry, I'm not one of those people who thinks 30 a day will get be a ripped washboard stomach, just wondering how it varies from person-to-person.

Thanks :)

Feel free to add me!

Replies

  • xxTracey
    xxTracey Posts: 85 Member
    I'm curious about this too because i always thought the way to a flat stomach was crunches etc and now lately all ive been hearing is that, that won't work you need to do cardio and burn the fat, crunches wont do anything. So i am very confused.

    Also does doing ab exercises with weights burn fat and tone?
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    Good question. I've been doing a lot of cardio and the weight has melted off, but my tummy needs toning, without doubt I need some ab work. I used to be gym-mad and do the lot - a massive cardio workout followed by a silly amount of sit ups, with and without weights, and I had the flat stomach I wish I had now!

    Interested to see what others say about ab work and weights, as I've heard it can be really bad for your back...
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Diet and lowering your BF% is the key to a flat stomach. "Abdominal" exercise aren't going to give you the results you want/are looking for. I haven't done an "abdominal" workout in years. Combination "core" exercises, plyometrics, explosive movements.... Most end up working their hip flexors when doing ab exercises anyway.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Most people who need to lose weight have a layer of fat covering their abdomen muscles...... so fat people "can" have washboard abs that are not visable.

    Working your core supports your back, helps your posture, helps you stand tall and "holds" everything in .... so to speak. So even without washboard abs it's imprtant to have a strong core.

    It's not either cardio ... or strength training for me .... it's a combination of both. It's not so much "burning" fat through exercise as it is losing fat through calorie deficit.... this may be just me.
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    Exercise doesn't burn fat. Eating at/creating through exercise a caloric deficit causes your body to burn fat for fuel. Core exercises will strengthen your core, but it will not cause your to lose fat from that area. Cardio will increase your caloric deficit, but it does not, in and of itself, burn fat. Cardio alone can also lead to loss of LBM, so strength exercises, I'm fond of big, compound lifts and Pilates, can help you to retain LBM so your loss is mostly (hopefully) from fat.
  • Hlthy4Good
    Hlthy4Good Posts: 15 Member
    I absolutely feel a difference in how my clothes fit when I do sit-ups regularly. Certainly I won't see my "6 pack" until I lose the weight, but I do feel a difference in my comfort in clothing.
  • belgerian
    belgerian Posts: 1,059 Member
    As ive heard Abs are made in the kitchen
This discussion has been closed.

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