Keeping abs tight??

wish21
wish21 Posts: 602 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
What is it exactly? Isn't keeping your abs tight the same thing as sucking in.? I am sucking in when I am keeping my abs tight during a workout, but still breathing im not holding my breath or anything. Do you have to keep you abs tight or suck in during a workout, will it make a difference?:huh:

Replies

  • mrsdauer
    mrsdauer Posts: 102
    i had to comment.... during jillian michaels workout she says "keep those abs tight"..... your post caught my attention, because the other day during a workout i actually yelled back to the tv "THEY ARE SUCKED IN, ITS JUST NO ONE CAN TELL IT....YET!!"

    as far as your question, i always find myself relaxing my stomach/ab muscles, when i notice im "letting it hang" i suck them in, was told by my chiropractor to always TRY to keep them tight, as it also helps with the back :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Keeping them tight isn't the same as sucking it in.

    Imagine someone is going to put an ice cube on your bare belly, or if you need a more extreme example, as if someone is going to sucker punch you in the gut. The reflex reaction to either of those is to tighten your abs. If you tense them like that and poke yourself in the stomach, you'll feel the difference.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,068 Member
    You keep abs tight during lifts to stabilize and prevent injury. Sucking in your abs is retracting the muscle towards the spine. Keeping your abs tight is flexing them throughout an exercise movement.

    Try this. Suck your abs in. Now poke it with your finger. You may feel a little firmness. Now "push" your abs out. Poke again. You should feel much more firmness from the muscle flexing against the skin. This is known as keeping your abs tight through an exercise.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • wish21
    wish21 Posts: 602 Member
    i had to comment.... during jillian michaels workout she says "keep those abs tight"..... your post caught my attention, because the other day during a workout i actually yelled back to the tv "THEY ARE SUCKED IN, ITS JUST NO ONE CAN TELL IT....YET!!"

    as far as your question, i always find myself relaxing my stomach/ab muscles, when i notice im "letting it hang" i suck them in, was told by my chiropractor to always TRY to keep them tight, as it also helps with the back :)

    I love this and guess what I work out to JM all the time*High FIVE* :laugh:
  • gazz777
    gazz777 Posts: 722
    Bump
  • withervein
    withervein Posts: 224 Member
    Imagine someone is going to put an ice cube on your bare belly, or if you need a more extreme example, as if someone is going to sucker punch you in the gut. The reflex reaction to either of those is to tighten your abs. If you tense them like that and poke yourself in the stomach, you'll feel the difference.

    This.

    If you can't imagine getting punched or expecting a cold shock, try this:
    Sit tall.
    Suck your belly in as far as you can, push it out like a kid pretending to be pregnant, then find the middle (keep your back nice and tall).
    Now just tense your midsection, its not quite pushing out, but the middle gets more solid.

    You now have your core nice and stable. If someone tried to shove you over, you aren't going anywhere.

    It may feel like you are holding your breath, but consciously breathe while keeping your middle tight. Once you are comfortable breathing with a tight core, stand up, walk around keeping it tense. Then get on your hands and toes and hang out in the plank position, don't peak with your butt.

    THAT is your core.
  • wish21
    wish21 Posts: 602 Member
    I have another question lol..

    Does it make a difference If I keep my abs tight or if I don't?
  • jennhill310
    jennhill310 Posts: 86
    I have another question lol..

    Does it make a difference If I keep my abs tight or if I don't?

    Ohh I would love to know this too
  • Thereisno1likeme
    Thereisno1likeme Posts: 1 Member
    Don't mean to bump, but I'm still lost.. what's the difference? When I suck in my belly it feels firm when I poke it, but I don't think that I'm Tightening my abs.
  • budobo
    budobo Posts: 38
    When you lightly tighten your abs you should still be able to take deep belly breaths (which is how everyone should breathe). I stand at work, and have my core tight the whole time in order to support my back. I breathe through my belly so it still inflates/deflates.

    When you're sucking your belly in, muscles of your abdomen are used; however, you will be restricted to shoulder breathing, which is a pretty ****ty way to breathe. It can cause muscle tension in your shoulders/back and overall less efficient air intake

    TLDR: You can poke your belly out and still have a tightened core. You are forced to breathe through your chest/shoulders when you're just sucking your tummy in.
  • Asherah29
    Asherah29 Posts: 354 Member
    Sucking in feels different than keeping your abs tight. Tight abs are an engaging of the muscle, sucking in is just pulling your belly in. When you suck in you have to hold your breath, you can't keep it up for an extended length of time. Keeping your abs tight engages your abdomen from your pelvic bone to your rib cage. You should be able to breath up into your lungs and feel your rib cage expanding while your abs are tight. When you let the air out you are almost forcing the air out in a controlled manner. Breathing is very much involved in the whole process.
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    Does it make a difference If I keep my abs tight or if I don't?
    Yes. It's part of keeping good form.
  • wonderbeard101
    wonderbeard101 Posts: 75 Member
    When you lightly tighten your abs you should still be able to take deep belly breaths (which is how everyone should breathe). I stand at work, and have my core tight the whole time in order to support my back. I breathe through my belly so it still inflates/deflates.

    When you're sucking your belly in, muscles of your abdomen are used; however, you will be restricted to shoulder breathing, which is a pretty ****ty way to breathe. It can cause muscle tension in your shoulders/back and overall less efficient air intake

    TLDR: You can poke your belly out and still have a tightened core. You are forced to breathe through your chest/shoulders when you're just sucking your tummy in.

    Yup! Belly breathing, or if your prefer, diaphragmic breathing. Inhale into your stomach and brace them by pushing your belly out.

    The basic gist is that a thicker core (torso) give more stability to your spine versus the narrower core that sucking in would give you. Imagine trying to break a really thick tree branch instead of trying to break a skinny one.
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