lower abs exercise?

mcgeorge5
mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Am I right in believing that crunches strengthen your upper ab muscles?
What exercise will help strengthen your lower abs?

Replies

  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I don't believe there really are lower and upper exercises. I

    What makes you feel like you're working your lower abs are the hip flexors that are under the abdominals.
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    I'm really new to this, could you be more specific or tell me where to go look it up?
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    You can do reverse crunches- raise your legs in towards your abs, instead of raising your chest up... but really, you probably already have them... most people (myself included) just need to lose the body fat in order to see them. You can't really "tone" an isolated part of your body. IMO
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    lower-ab-work-out-beginner1.jpg
    try this one!

    you can also lay on your back with your hands by your sides or under the small of your back. Bring your knees to 45 degree angle and your calves are parallel to the floor. extend your legs all the way out till the they are straight. Bring your knees back in.

    Remember you can have fabulous ab muscles but no one will see them if you don't loose the belly fat on top (currently struggling with this). Cardio and strength train your other muscles so you can lose that fat and show off your stomach! :heart:
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    lower-ab-work-out-beginner1.jpg
    try this one!

    you can also lay on your back with your hands by your sides or under the small of your back. Bring your knees to 45 degree angle and your calves are parallel to the floor. extend your legs all the way out till the they are straight. Bring your knees back in.

    Remember you can have fabulous ab muscles but no one will see them if you don't loose the belly fat on top (currently struggling with this). Cardio and strength train your other muscles so you can lose that fat and show off your stomach! :heart:

    Thank you!!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    lower-ab-work-out-beginner1.jpg
    try this one!

    you can also lay on your back with your hands by your sides or under the small of your back. Bring your knees to 45 degree angle and your calves are parallel to the floor. extend your legs all the way out till the they are straight. Bring your knees back in.

    Remember you can have fabulous ab muscles but no one will see them if you don't loose the belly fat on top (currently struggling with this). Cardio and strength train your other muscles so you can lose that fat and show off your stomach! :heart:

    Thank you!!

    As stated before, if not done correctly you're just working your hip flexors.
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member

    As stated before, if not done correctly you're just working your hip flexors.

    Can you explain this to me please?
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member


    Remember you can have fabulous ab muscles but no one will see them if you don't loose the belly fat on top (currently struggling with this). Cardio and strength train your other muscles so you can lose that fat and show off your stomach! :heart:

    I started doing some crunches during my stretching/cool down after I have been doing cardio for 45 minutes. And I'm working on the belly fat :) Baby steps. :)
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member

    As stated before, if not done correctly you're just working your hip flexors.

    Can you explain this to me please?

    To move your feet from flat on the ground to roughly 45 degrees your hip flexor muscles do all the work (they're under your abs, so it feels like the abs are working) and from there momentum can take over. When you lower your feet you have to make sure they don't break that plane.
  • foodfastfit
    foodfastfit Posts: 154 Member
    One very effective ab exercise that you'll rarely see anyone do in the gym is called the "cat vomit" :) Search for it on youtube. It doesn't take long to do and strengthens the muscles that keep your abdominal region tight.
  • klcalliari
    klcalliari Posts: 60 Member
    Belly fat will not go away if you do crunches or sit ups or anything else like that for that matter. Cardio will get rid of belly fat. Core exercises will help you hold in what you have better but won't get rid of what you have. Gotta get your heart rate up to burn off that fat. Everyone has a 6 pack, it just depends how much fat you have on top of it.
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    Belly fat will not go away if you do crunches or sit ups or anything else like that for that matter. Cardio will get rid of belly fat. Core exercises will help you hold in what you have better but won't get rid of what you have. Gotta get your heart rate up to burn off that fat. Everyone has a 6 pack, it just depends how much fat you have on top of it.

    Thanks! I am doing the cardio, this is after the cardio!
  • djeffreys10
    djeffreys10 Posts: 2,312 Member
    I sit on the edge of a weight bench, and bring a strap to tie around the bench that I can hook my feet under. Then I do crunches hanging off the bench, and go all the way down until my head touches the floor. This feels to me like it is hitting the lower abs pretty well.
  • djeffreys10
    djeffreys10 Posts: 2,312 Member
    Belly fat will not go away if you do crunches or sit ups or anything else like that for that matter. Cardio will get rid of belly fat. Core exercises will help you hold in what you have better but won't get rid of what you have. Gotta get your heart rate up to burn off that fat. Everyone has a 6 pack, it just depends how much fat you have on top of it.

    And don't forget a calorie deficit. You can do all the cardio in the world, but if you are eating more than you burn you will not get rid of the fat.
  • bethany41h
    bethany41h Posts: 218
    I looked some up on google and youtube that I thought were helpful. My gym has an ab coaster that I can feel works my lower abs.
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    Belly fat will not go away if you do crunches or sit ups or anything else like that for that matter. Cardio will get rid of belly fat. Core exercises will help you hold in what you have better but won't get rid of what you have. Gotta get your heart rate up to burn off that fat. Everyone has a 6 pack, it just depends how much fat you have on top of it.

    And don't forget a calorie deficit. You can do all the cardio in the world, but if you are eating more than you burn you will not get rid of the fat.

    I am eating at a calorie deficit, too. Thanks for your help :)

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