So you want a nice stomach

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Replies

  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    All good points. But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

    I do not lift heavy in the gym, I do kettlebell workouts. Involves lots of core work. I don't do any specific abdominal work at all. And I do lots of cardio, because I love it (running) and it helps me increase my calorie debt if I so desire. AND it decreases my appetite.

    You're right, there is more than one way.

    You still activate your muscles and eat at a calorie deficit. Those are the the main keys to success.

    Heheh. Please see my edited post. After I posted this, I realized it came out wrong.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    All good points. But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

    I do not lift heavy in the gym, I do kettlebell workouts. Involves lots of core work. I don't do any specific abdominal work at all. And I do lots of cardio, because I love it (running) and it helps me increase my calorie debt if I so desire. AND it decreases my appetite.

    You're right, there is more than one way.

    You still activate your muscles and eat at a calorie deficit. Those are the the main keys to success.

    Heheh. Please see my edited post. After I posted this, I realized it came out wrong.

    :laugh: No hard feelings! I knew what you were getting at. :flowerforyou:
  • Wabbit05
    Wabbit05 Posts: 434 Member
    Great reminder! Bump
  • Reinventing_Me
    Reinventing_Me Posts: 1,053 Member
    Great! Bump!
  • Iron_Duchess
    Iron_Duchess Posts: 429 Member
    Awesome info and link!! Thanks.
  • KellySue67
    KellySue67 Posts: 1,006 Member
    bump! Love it!
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    are there other things i may do instead of lifting, because i don't have equipment or a gym membership (yet)? are exercises using bodyweight ok?
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    are there other things i may do instead of lifting, because i don't have equipment or a gym membership (yet)? are exercises using bodyweight ok?
    There are several bodyweight programs. Look at you are your own gym and convict conditioning. The main thing is to not stagnate in your lifting routine. A progressive program works best, and there are lots of variations to make exercises harder (or easier when you're starting out). I know for sure those programs have a progression, but I'm sure there are lots of others.
  • cakebatter07
    cakebatter07 Posts: 814 Member
    Thanks for the advice OP. :flowerforyou: One of my main vanity goals is to get a nice (flat) stomach this year. I think it will happen. :smile:
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I got caught assuming due to all my military friends who can still run 6 minute miles..drunk...while smoking a pack a cigarettes...and laugh at me while I am trying to keep up.

    <- former air force, I got out of shape in the military.

    ETA: will stop hijacking now. :-/

    Ditto. Reached my highest weight in the AF. I was more in shape while I was doing marching band in college! Ha!
  • Imanido
    Imanido Posts: 186 Member
    Great thread! I am dying for a nice 6 packs, it will take a life time but I will get there!
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Bookmarked for future referencing. :)

    I love this post. Very to the point and something we all need to read once in awhile.
  • fitmomhappymom
    fitmomhappymom Posts: 171 Member
    bump for later...love this!
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
    Great post!!!
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    Bookmarking this for myself. My stomach is my #1 goal. It's getting there, but this is a much better detailed plan to follow! Well done!

    I especially loved the TDEE calculator, thanks!
  • HANGRYFEEDME
    HANGRYFEEDME Posts: 89
    Same here when I was AD AF i reached my highest weight as well....they might PT you but you learn nothing about nutrition...great post USMC.
  • in4nomz
    in4nomz Posts: 230
    So true!! More people need to know these things.
  • MRSpivey
    MRSpivey Posts: 270 Member
    Excellent post!!!

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  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    Well said! :drinker:
  • 04hoopsgal73
    04hoopsgal73 Posts: 892 Member
    It is a well written post especially for beginners like myself. For 3 years I have slowly made adaptions in my life and becoming and being the person I want to be and who I am. There have been plateaus, injuries and illness but I carry forward as I will not go backwards. I have been on MFP for 20 months and appreciate the
    sharing of knowledge and wisdom from those who have persevered. Thanks for sharing and to everyone for the
    helpful websites. (another snowy stormy day so I get to read them!)
  • PLoveElliott
    PLoveElliott Posts: 114 Member
    Thank you OP! Great points and read.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Very well written, I heartily agree.

    The only thing I'd say, is that for those who cannot commit to the time required to do strength training 3x a week AND some cardio, SOMETHING is better than nothing.

    The deficit is key to getting rid of the fat.
    Strength is key to not losing muscle.
    Cardio is great for the heart and for topping up the calorie budget, though too much can eat away at muscle.

    Even if you can't adopt a strong lifts, or heavy lifting platform - even just adding in a few minutes of some body weight exercises (pushups, squats, planks, etc) will help with muscle strength.

    Just my two cents.

    I know when I told my friend I wanted a six pack, he gave me this huge list of all the things I'd have to do - eat clean, train 5 days a week, never have ice cream again... and I decided, screw that, I'll just stay overweight.

    Well... he was wrong. Minor shifts and adjustments, a crazy assed boxing session once a week, and smart calorie picking is what I needed to get my six pack.

    my moral: if I am patient, and stay at a deficit, I CAN get there.

    This is all very true. There were many times during my quest for abs that I didn't even do cardio. There's more than one way to get there, but making small changes (especially when what we are doing stops working) and staying with it will eventually get us there.
  • Savyna
    Savyna Posts: 789 Member
    Awesome post, I like no.4. I'm not a mega fan of cardio but it's good to do it at least even once a week. What I do though is a lot of supersets when I lift so to me when I feel my heart pumping for like 20 minutes or whatever, it feels like not only was I doing some strength training I was also doing some cardio.

    Also your abs are fantabulous! Honestly I was one of those who thought you were a guy at first, it wasn't until the other poster said you were a girl I was like woah, awesome. I hope to someday get my abs to show too.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Awesome post, I like no.4. I'm not a mega fan of cardio but it's good to do it at least even once a week. What I do though is a lot of supersets when I lift so to me when I feel my heart pumping for like 20 minutes or whatever, it feels like not only was I doing some strength training I was also doing some cardio.

    Also your abs are fantabulous! Honestly I was one of those who thought you were a guy at first, it wasn't until the other poster said you were a girl I was like woah, awesome. I hope to someday get my abs to show too.

    :laugh: I'm not insulted people think I'm a guy. Thank you! One day you can get there, just keep working at it. Lifting can definitely improve cardiovascular health.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    This is exactly how I got my six packs...but. I am pear shaped and perhaps I was a nose ahead comparing to an apple shaped person as far as flat stomach goes. :)
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I am just glad to see that nobody mentioned "crunches" or "do 8 min ab workout" that sort of stuff. LOL
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    This is exactly how I got my six packs...but. I am pear shaped and perhaps I was a nose ahead comparing to an apple shaped person as far as flat stomach goes. :)

    I was just fat shaped :wink:

    I do tend to hold the most fat in my lower stomach and my thighs. The rest of me will be super lean, but those areas hang on to fat. First to come and last to go.
  • Savyna
    Savyna Posts: 789 Member
    Awesome post, I like no.4. I'm not a mega fan of cardio but it's good to do it at least even once a week. What I do though is a lot of supersets when I lift so to me when I feel my heart pumping for like 20 minutes or whatever, it feels like not only was I doing some strength training I was also doing some cardio.

    Also your abs are fantabulous! Honestly I was one of those who thought you were a guy at first, it wasn't until the other poster said you were a girl I was like woah, awesome. I hope to someday get my abs to show too.

    :laugh: I'm not insulted people think I'm a guy. Thank you! One day you can get there, just keep working at it. Lifting can definitely improve cardiovascular health.
    Thanks ^_^ When I pull my stomach in I can see a little mound where they're located haha so I feel something is working.

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