Why are abs impossible?!
hnaquin280
Posts: 26 Member
Hi! I've been on MFP for about 5 months and have lost 35 pounds and hit my goal weight. I'm now focusing on maintaining and strengthening. Overall, I think I've lost a significant amount of weight, but my midsection still bothers me. I eat clean, do all kinds of abdominal excercises that are not just sit ups and crunches, and I do cardio 45 minutes a day 5 days a week. I'm just not seeing any progress in my midsection. I'm not going for a ripped 6 pack, I'd just like to tighten up and tone and see some definition and not flabby lower belly fat ): is this a problem for anyone else?
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Replies
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Having abs or a toned mid section comes down to two factors: low body fat and adequate lean mass.
My suggestion is to eat at maintenance and start lifting. Check out suggestions on programs in some of the lifting threads. You need to add a bit of muscle to continue to get leaner.0 -
Everyone else!! lol Spot training is difficult to see in the mid section when spot reducing is impossible. I would kill for my stomach to be as ripped as my fore arms!! Honestly just keep up the great work and maybe throw in a 30 day ab challenge so when you do drop the fat percentage they are ready to be admired.. My 2 cents0
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What are your current abdominal exercises? Do you have any loose skin?0
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Having abs or a toned mid section comes down to two factors: low body fat and adequate lean mass.
My suggestion is to eat at maintenance and start lifting. Check out suggestions on programs in some of the lifting threads. You need to add a bit of muscle to continue to get leaner.
All of this ^^0 -
wait this isn't an AMA?
idk lift weights0 -
community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
Nice post by usmcmp. She's awesome. You should listen to her.0 -
why does everyone equate clean eating with abs?0
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why does everyone equate clean eating with abs?
Social media. Mostly those bikini competitors who use steroids to get super lean and then tell everyone it was detoxing and clean eating. Because lying about how they got lean is better than admitting to using steroids and starving themselves.0 -
I agree with the weight lifting suggestions. ive switched my focus to mostly weight training with cardio only 2 days a week, the results have been pretty satisfying so far.
and remember the adage... "Abs are made in the kitchen!" maybe you're not eating as clean as you think?
ALSO and lol watch things like sodium intake and certain medications or supplements for water retention. as women, we hold water like CRAZY and for the craziest reasons sometimes. Luck!0 -
I don't do ab exercises and I have abs. What her ab workout looks like is irrelevant. Loose skin is also not going to prevent her from having a lean mid section.
I was using her phrasing. She could be futilely doing bodyweight exercises. I wasn't going to suggest she do a progressive lifting program if she had already started one and was just too early in expecting results.
Some people (post pregnancy women, people who have lost a lot of weight) do have loose skin that hangs despite an otherwise lean torso. I'm 70 lbs down and I have weird skin pooling in certain areas that no amount of lifting will undo. It's about expectations.0 -
Social media. Mostly those bikini competitors who use steroids to get super lean and then tell everyone it was detoxing and clean eating. Because lying about how they got lean is better than admitting to using steroids and starving themselves.
I knew this was the answer....I guess it was a rhetorical question lol
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I agree with the weight lifting suggestions. ive switched my focus to mostly weight training with cardio only 2 days a week, the results have been pretty satisfying so far.
and remember the adage... "Abs are made in the kitchen!" maybe you're not eating as clean as you think?
ALSO and lol watch things like sodium intake and certain medications or supplements for water retention. as women, we hold water like CRAZY and for the craziest reasons sometimes. Luck!
If she's already at a healthy weight clean eating won't magically give her abs. She needs more muscle and less fat. She can do that while eating "dirty".0 -
I agree with the weight lifting suggestions. ive switched my focus to mostly weight training with cardio only 2 days a week, the results have been pretty satisfying so far.
and remember the adage... "Abs are made in the kitchen!" maybe you're not eating as clean as you think?
ALSO and lol watch things like sodium intake and certain medications or supplements for water retention. as women, we hold water like CRAZY and for the craziest reasons sometimes. Luck!
so eating more clean = abs?
OP here is what you need to get abs
dedication
patience
hard work
a food scale
accurate logging
a structured heavy lifting program
some cardio (if you want)
micro/macro adherence
note, that clean eating is no where on that list.0 -
I was using her phrasing. She could be futilely doing bodyweight exercises. I wasn't going to suggest she do a progressive lifting program if she had already started one and was just too early in expecting results.
Some people (post pregnancy women, people who have lost a lot of weight) do have loose skin that hangs despite an otherwise lean torso. I'm 70 lbs down and I have weird skin pooling in certain areas that no amount of lifting will undo. It's about expectations.
I have loose skin. I still have visible abs.
She stated she does lots of cardio, but never mentioned lifting.0 -
I feel like there's a Philosophical Raptor for this thread out there somewhere0
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hollydubs85 wrote: »
10,000 pins on Pinterest that say so can't be wrong!
Yes because if it is on the internet it must be true....right?
Actually "clean" (whatever the f that is) eating is irrelevant to abs...it is the amount of calories you consume combined with the type of training you do.
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hollydubs85 wrote: »
10,000 pins on Pinterest that say so can't be wrong!
for realz...it is kind of sad how people base their ideal body on some photo shopped pictures with perfect lighting...0 -
lol +10 -
yes, abs have nothing to do with clean eating. Tracking your food intake and lifting is key. You need to add some type of weight training to your exercise routine. I don't have access to a gym, but I do a variety of exercise with weights and HIIT at home. After 2 kids and at 41 years old I have a stomach I am proud of, all while not cutting out any types of foods or drinks. You can do it!
ETA: Look back at some of usmcmp's threads. They can help you out too!0 -
yes, abs have nothing to do with clean eating. Tracking your food intake and lifting is key. You need to add some type of weight training to your exercise routine. I don't have access to a gym, but do a variety of exercise with weights and HIIT. After 2 kids and at 41 years old I have a stomach I am proud of, all while not cutting out any types of foods or drinks. You can do it!
I second all of this! While my abs are not visible at the moment, I am a 37 year old Mom of two.0 -
Neversettle78 wrote: »
Yes because if it is on the internet it must be true....right?
Actually "clean" (whatever the f that is) eating is irrelevant to abs...it is the amount of calories you consume combined with the type of training you do.
Right, I was being sarcastic. :flowerforyou:0 -
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Burning more Calories than you take in. Lifting heavy weights (no you won't get bulky). Doing some cardio. Getting enough protein and fat.
Also, 35 lbs in 5 months is a pretty significant amount of weight. You COULD have some loose skin. It will take time for it to adjust to your leaner body. Since you are only 21, it shouldn't take long. If there is no difference in after a few months, refer to the first paragraph.0 -
why does everyone equate clean eating with abs?
When I say clean eating I just mean I've cut out processed foods and eat more fruits and vegetables and make all of my dinners from scratch. I've noticed a huge difference in my body after starting that. I don't do any crazy detoxes or anything, just eating better.
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yes, abs have nothing to do with clean eating. Tracking your food intake and lifting is key. You need to add some type of weight training to your exercise routine. I don't have access to a gym, but I do a variety of exercise with weights and HIIT at home. After 2 kids and at 41 years old I have a stomach I am proud of, all while not cutting out any types of foods or drinks. You can do it!
ETA: Look back at some of usmcmp's threads. They can help you out too!
Thank you! I have just been doing body weight ab excercises and it makes sense to start adding weights. I was just worried at first that it would bulk up my abs without thinning me down and give me a bloated look
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hnaquin280 wrote: »
When I say clean eating I just mean I've cut out processed foods and eat more fruits and vegetables and make all of my dinners from scratch. I've noticed a huge difference in my body after starting that. I don't do any crazy detoxes or anything, just eating better.
You can still eat processed foods or junk food and get abs. Some people find it easier to stick to a calorie deficit by limiting those, but you could still include them.0
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