lifting for a flat belly? why?

christinelast
christinelast Posts: 76 Member
edited February 15 in Fitness and Exercise
I thought you get a flat tummy with diet, meaning caloric deficit, plus there are no spot reduction exercies, so why lifting? Serious question, please donot feel offended or offend me neither. Thank you

Replies

  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
    Well I lift.
    When my fat is gone, my beautiful lean muscles will shine through and I will have a nice looking tummy then someone who just ate at a deficit and did cardio.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    A calorie deficit without lifting equals muscle loss. A calorie deficit with lifting equals muscle retention and majority of weight loss will be fat loss.
  • mrsgoochy
    mrsgoochy Posts: 61 Member
    Corgarian, what are your top five strength moves you use for stomach? I've recently added a kettle bell workout to my routine and I can really feel it in my oblique's. I had a baby in July and my pouch is nearly extinct but there's always room for improvement ;)
  • cpusmc
    cpusmc Posts: 122 Member
    I thought you get a flat tummy with diet, meaning caloric deficit, plus there are no spot reduction exercies, so why lifting? Serious question, please donot feel offended or offend me neither. Thank you

    correct, flat tummy = loss of bodyfat through a caloric deficit.... what we want to lose most will be last to go as you are correct, no spot reduction.

    weights = increased lean muscle mass which increases calorie burn over a longer period of time than just cardio alone. you have to decide the body type you are seeking, for instance a female marathon runner, versus a female fitness contestant.... likely both could have the same bf% and weigh the same at the same height but because the fitness competitor incorporates significant weight lifting into her training program her body type will look completely different than that of the marathon runner. not good, not bad, just different body types due to the diet and training each one has focused on. hope this helps... good luck..
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
    I dont do super heavy weighted ab workouts. A normal day I do inclined situps with a 10-15lb plate. I do inclined leg lifts with 10lb (5lb each) ankle weights, I do leg raises (what is the thing called that you hang on by your forearms and your feet dangle? thats what I mean.. I'm so technical lol) with my anke weights.
    (another technical one) There is a contraption that I lean against, it goest right below my hip flexers and I hold a 25lb plate and bend at the waist. I do that one facing forwards, and on both sides. It works my lower back and obliques.

    (I do 3-4 sets of 10 on all the above)

    And I always finish with 2 one minute planks.

    **sorry for bad terminoligy, I'm a visual learner so the names of things leave my brain once I learn the movement.
  • weightliftingdiva
    weightliftingdiva Posts: 522 Member
    Weighted squats have done more for my abs then a sit-up ever did.

    That being said, I am still doing planks, not as much for the exercise but for the physical challenge. I'm up to 45 seconds and tomorrow I'm going to do 50 (5 secs added each workout!)
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    in for reads :)
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I thought you get a flat tummy with diet, meaning caloric deficit, plus there are no spot reduction exercies, so why lifting? Serious question, please donot feel offended or offend me neither. Thank you

    correct, flat tummy = loss of bodyfat through a caloric deficit.... what we want to lose most will be last to go as you are correct, no spot reduction.

    weights = increased lean muscle mass which increases calorie burn over a longer period of time than just cardio alone. you have to decide the body type you are seeking, for instance a female marathon runner, versus a female fitness contestant.... likely both could have the same bf% and weigh the same at the same height but because the fitness competitor incorporates significant weight lifting into her training program her body type will look completely different than that of the marathon runner. not good, not bad, just different body types due to the diet and training each one has focused on. hope this helps... good luck..

    Weights doesn't mean increased muscle.

    In a deficit it more means RETAINED muscle.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    A calorie deficit without lifting equals muscle loss. A calorie deficit with lifting equals muscle retention and majority of weight loss will be fat loss.

    /thread
  • cpusmc
    cpusmc Posts: 122 Member
    I thought you get a flat tummy with diet, meaning caloric deficit, plus there are no spot reduction exercies, so why lifting? Serious question, please donot feel offended or offend me neither. Thank you

    correct, flat tummy = loss of bodyfat through a caloric deficit.... what we want to lose most will be last to go as you are correct, no spot reduction.

    weights = increased lean muscle mass which increases calorie burn over a longer period of time than just cardio alone. you have to decide the body type you are seeking, for instance a female marathon runner, versus a female fitness contestant.... likely both could have the same bf% and weigh the same at the same height but because the fitness competitor incorporates significant weight lifting into her training program her body type will look completely different than that of the marathon runner. not good, not bad, just different body types due to the diet and training each one has focused on. hope this helps... good luck..

    Weights doesn't mean increased muscle.

    In a deficit it more means RETAINED muscle.

    at least 1 person appears to have a different opinion...

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/362906-can-you-build-muscle-on-a-calorie-deficit/
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Muscle is tight, too. I know I get at least an inch off my midsection just by how much I'm working the muscles and keeping them firm with resistance training. That's not fat reduction, but it's an inch smaller (for me) and feels nicer to boot :)

    It also helps those postural imbalances like pelvic tilt issues that can make people look odd/poochy in the midsection. Just make sure to stretch everything well, too, because those imbalances involve both overly tight muscles and loose ones.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    I thought you get a flat tummy with diet, meaning caloric deficit, plus there are no spot reduction exercies, so why lifting? Serious question, please donot feel offended or offend me neither. Thank you

    correct, flat tummy = loss of bodyfat through a caloric deficit.... what we want to lose most will be last to go as you are correct, no spot reduction.

    weights = increased lean muscle mass which increases calorie burn over a longer period of time than just cardio alone. you have to decide the body type you are seeking, for instance a female marathon runner, versus a female fitness contestant.... likely both could have the same bf% and weigh the same at the same height but because the fitness competitor incorporates significant weight lifting into her training program her body type will look completely different than that of the marathon runner. not good, not bad, just different body types due to the diet and training each one has focused on. hope this helps... good luck..

    Weights doesn't mean increased muscle.

    In a deficit it more means RETAINED muscle.

    at least 1 person appears to have a different opinion...

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/362906-can-you-build-muscle-on-a-calorie-deficit/

    Everybody knows there is an exception to that rule for the severely overweight but it's been said so many times and it's such a small exception that it goes without saying...
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