Training Your Abs to Stick Out

walkinthedogs
walkinthedogs Posts: 238 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was in a class the other day doing ab work and the teacher told us to make sure we were sucking our abs in and down or we would train them to build muscle that sticks out rather than having flat abs. My first reaction was, "what, that's ludicrious" and it doesn't make logical sense to me, which is usually how I gauge any information that comes my way. But she is a fitness instructor so I figure she knows more than me about how to get flat abs. Has anyone ever heard this before and for all you fitness guru's out there, is this even possible? Makes no sense to me. I don't want to get toned abs that protrude.

Replies

  • mreeves261
    mreeves261 Posts: 728 Member
    Sounds crazy to be but I'm no expert.

    Just because someone is a "fitness instructor" doesn't mean they have any knowledge of how the human body actually works. I'm pretty sure you can get a certificate for that without actually having to take a Biology, Physics, Anatomy, and/or Physiology class.
  • BITEME_GRRR
    BITEME_GRRR Posts: 150 Member
    I work out my abs like crazy. They dont protrude and even if they did it would be muscle and look fab so i wouldnt worry about it!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Abs that stick out are due to high body fat, not gigantic ab muscles. Your fitness instructor has no idea what she's talking about.
  • BobOki
    BobOki Posts: 245 Member
    *flex's his fat rolls* I don't think I am doing this right....
  • Juiced_Justin
    Juiced_Justin Posts: 5 Member
    Sucking in your belly while doing ab work is working the transverse abdominis or TVA.

    Here is an article that might explain it a little bit, you can do more research if you'd like.

    http://sixpack-absworkout.com/all-about-working-the-transverse-abdominals.html
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    ridiculous fitness "instructor" is ridiculous.

    maybe she stayed at a holiday inn express?
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    I was in a class the other day doing ab work and the teacher told us to make sure we were sucking our abs in and down or we would train them to build muscle that sticks out rather than having flat abs. My first reaction was, "what, that's ludicrious" and it doesn't make logical sense to me, which is usually how I gauge any information that comes my way. But she is a fitness instructor so I figure she knows more than me about how to get flat abs. Has anyone ever heard this before and for all you fitness guru's out there, is this even possible? Makes no sense to me. I don't want to get toned abs that protrude.

    tumblr_lwg6nhGmaF1qzjix8.gif
  • walkinthedogs
    walkinthedogs Posts: 238 Member
    Thank you, you are all confirming what I thought was false or at the very least bad information. I guess I thought because she was teaching this, she must know, even though it flew in the face of logic, at least logic for me, but I thought I'd throw it out here the MFP community, who, for the most part, seem to have logical and valid info. Thanks also for the article, I never tire of learning.
  • walkinthedogs
    walkinthedogs Posts: 238 Member
    I work out my abs like crazy. They dont protrude and even if they did it would be muscle and look fab so i wouldnt worry about it!

    Yes muscle is always better :smile: And can I just say, WOW to your abs.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Abs that stick out are due to high body fat, not gigantic ab muscles. Your fitness instructor has no idea what she's talking about.
    Yup, I have large, well developed abdominals but they stick out because they're embedded in a large, well developed belly.
  • Juiced_Justin
    Juiced_Justin Posts: 5 Member
    Did you just completely disregard my post?

    Its called your transverse abdominus or TVA. Your instructor is onto something...
  • aerochic42
    aerochic42 Posts: 843 Member
    I know any number of exercises where it is smart to engage your ab muscles (not quite suck the belly button to the spine, but be ready to do so) to help stabilize your core, use the correct muscles, protect your back,and improve balance. I wonder if that is what your fitness instructor based it on. It kind of sounds like a half-truth.
    I also know that in Western culture, we are kind of trained from early on to suck in the gut, such that being a belly dancer it is hard to learn and teach our bodies to push the belly out or even relax it ehough to let it stick out further in order to do some moves like undulations and body roll.
  • walkinthedogs
    walkinthedogs Posts: 238 Member
    Did you just completely disregard my post?

    Its called your transverse abdominus or TVA. Your instructor is onto something...

    I did not completely disregard your post and I read the article. I didn't see anything about training your muscles to poke out rather than flatten your abs and in the article it even talks about doing these exercises to get a flat tummy.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I know any number of exercises where it is smart to engage your ab muscles (not quite suck the belly button to the spine, but be ready to do so) to help stabilize your core, use the correct muscles, protect your back,and improve balance. I wonder if that is what your fitness instructor based it on. It kind of sounds like a half-truth.
    I also know that in Western culture, we are kind of trained from early on to suck in the gut, such that being a belly dancer it is hard to learn and teach our bodies to push the belly out or even relax it ehough to let it stick out further in order to do some moves like undulations and body roll.

    You aren't sticking anything out when you do an undulation.

    you're relaxing or contracting.

    it's different.

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