Why can't I see my abs?!?!?!

jlbrown1985 wrote: »

Thank you! Some of you have been very helpful. I think the 20-22% range looks great and I would be happy with that! I'm also going to do some research on how to measure body fat and what at home tools/equipment is needed.

To be honest anything you can get to measure bf at home is not very accurate. The NFL uses the Bod Pod for testing at the Combine. Many hospital/university wellness programs have them and will test for $20-$50. There are some other methods but tend to be pricier.

I have to leave the cookies alone and I will see my abs.

jlbrown1985 wrote: »

Well I thought I was done asking questions but I guess not. Once again please excuse me if I say/ask something stupid.

I know that to lose weight you have to eat at a deficit. I am at my goal weight and don't want to lose anymore but in order to reduce body fat you have to burn more than you consume, correct? If I burn more than I consume won't I continue to lose weight? Is it all about exercise now? How much and what I do?

Once again I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes and laughing at my stupidity but some say "eat this eat that or don't eat this or don't eat that" "do this exercise or that exercise" I'm just confused because there is so much conflicting information out there. Is it just about finding what works best for you? Trial and error?

I'm not big on heavy lifting. I like the workout DVD's that I do and I like running but I am open minded to lifting. I use to do it in high school. Even then my muscles were not defined. Probably because I wasn't eating right. What are some other ways to get muscle definition without heavy lifting?

I like your questions. it was a lot of the same ones I had. just follow the good advice you are getting. I didnt use to like to lift weights when I first started losing weight, and I cannot lift very heavy. Now I love weights and its all I want to do. try it, you might actually like it.

jlbrown1985 wrote: »

I know that to lose weight you have to eat at a deficit. I am at my goal weight and don't want to lose anymore but in order to reduce body fat you have to burn more than you consume, correct? If I burn more than I consume won't I continue to lose weight? Is it all about exercise now? How much and what I do?

Once again I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes and laughing at my stupidity but some say "eat this eat that or don't eat this or don't eat that" "do this exercise or that exercise" I'm just confused because there is so much conflicting information out there. Is it just about finding what works best for you? Trial and error?

I'm not big on heavy lifting. I like the workout DVD's that I do and I like running but I am open minded to lifting. I use to do it in high school. Even then my muscles were not defined. Probably because I wasn't eating right. What are some other ways to get muscle definition without heavy lifting?

It seems like you are confusing a some things. The first is body composition - that is to say the ratio of your body that is fat vs the ratio of your body that is lean body mass. One person can weigh 130 pounds and have a different fat:LBM ration than another person who also weighs 130 pounds. So when you say you are at your goal weight, but that you can't see your abs then the issue is in this ratio. There isn't going to be some magic number weight that anyone can give you that will result in you seeing ab muscles.

BTW - saying you have to lose fat in order to see your abs is not the same thing as saying you are "fat" or unfit. Honestly, you sound pretty darn fit. Still, anatomically, we all have body fat (and for good reason evolutionary speaking). We all have a layer of fat on our belly that sits on top of the ab muscles. You won't see those muscles until either that layer of fat is small enough to see the muscles or the muscles are big enough to show through.

The thing is, losing weight and gaining muscle are two different cats who don't play well together. It seems to me that you probably need to select which aspect you want to focus on first to improve your fat:LBM ratio. If you choose to lower the left side of the ratio (burn fat), then you are going to have to eat a calorie deficit. However, that alone doesn't mean you will lose 100% fatty tissue. Since you already seem to have a low level of body fat, that last bit of fat is going to be darn tough so you may have to sweat the details much more than a beginner. For example, inducing your body to burn more fatty acids than carbs through weight training. You can learn a lot about fat loss and these sort of details at http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/ I admit the man can ramble and repeat himself a lot, but if you take the time to work through his articles, you will learn a lot. His work is based on science and not in marketing fluff or internet memes. Give the man a chance and spend some time working through his articles.

The other side of the ratio is to increase muscle mass. This is generally done by eating an excess of calories and some form of "lifting". As others have said, you don't have to lift heavy but you still have to stress your muscles somehow. Volume can be as useful as heavy weight. Think about a hardcore bicycle enthusiast - they get calves of steel through sheer repetition rather than standing toes on a 2x4 with 100 pounds of barbell on their shoulders and raising up and down.

The thing is, the closer you are to your ideal body composition (that ratio) the hard it is to change. Like I mentioned above, you may well be at an advanced stage of fitness where you have to go beyond the fundamentals. I like the site I mentioned above for a hardcore education. Give it a try and see what you learn.

martyqueen52 wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

martyqueen52 wrote: »

LolBroScience wrote: »

So much derp in this thread

With comments like yours, yes indeed.... there is.

The OP asked how to see her abs and you told her that you think lifting a car is cooler. She didn't ask for your opinion, plus abs and lifting a car aren't mutually exclusive. I'd consider that some derp.

That's all I told her? Really? You better develop better reading comprehension skills.

I told her the problem & solution. And tossing an opinion at the end, AFTER answering her question is "derp"? Amazing the lack of intelligence & comprehension in adults (if you are one even) now days.

I never told her she was fat in any way shape or form either like she was suggesting I did.... I'm not sure where the hell that one even came from. Reading this *kitten* is hurting my brain... I'm going to go enjoy some cookie butter and watch Arnolds new flick "Maggie" ...

Cheers.

OP what exercises are you doing in this DVD?

BTW I have no clue how to guess body fat% so I have no comment on that.

jlbrown1985 wrote: »

@ndj1979 @IsaackGMOON any program suggestions. I really don't know anything about lifting. I have thought about getting New Rules of Lifting for Women because I've seen that mentioned a lot here.

yopeeps025 The DVDs are circuits (3 workouts 3 circuts each with warm up and cool down) so there are a lot of different exercises I'm not sure I can think of all of them but here are some:

slow squat to overhead presses
jumping jacks
modified push ups ( I suck at push ups but I do a few normal ones)
modified bicycle
deadlift to upright row
crescent hold with tricep kickbacks
wipers
low impact burpees
figure 8 squats
scissor crunches
squirms
rows in a plank position
plank
lunges
Tricep Dips
push kicks
bridges
dead lift to upright row

I'm sure there a some that I am forgetting too.

I usually use 5 or 8lb weights when required.

So is this workout still moderately diffcult or is it getting on the easy side. Stronglifts 5x5 is a MFP favorite for beginner lifters.

martyqueen52 wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

martyqueen52 wrote: »

LolBroScience wrote: »

So much derp in this thread

With comments like yours, yes indeed.... there is.

The OP asked how to see her abs and you told her that you think lifting a car is cooler. She didn't ask for your opinion, plus abs and lifting a car aren't mutually exclusive. I'd consider that some derp.

That's all I told her? Really? You better develop better reading comprehension skills.

I told her the problem & solution. And tossing an opinion at the end, AFTER answering her question is "derp"? Amazing the lack of intelligence & comprehension in adults (if you are one even) now days.

I never told her she was fat in any way shape or form either like she was suggesting I did.... I'm not sure where the hell that one even came from. Reading this *kitten* is hurting my brain... I'm going to go enjoy some cookie butter and watch Arnolds new flick "Maggie" ...

Cheers.

My reading comprehension is just fine, thanks for your concern. I wasn't saying that's all you told her, I was saying it was unhelpful and that you can be strong with visible abs, therefore it was derp.

haha Channing Tatum. The problem with celebrities is they pay lots of money for trainers for results like that. I mean of course he looks amazing lol just saying

yusaku02 wrote: »

martyqueen52 wrote: »

Abs are overrated anyhow. "Hey look at me, I have abs"..... but can you lift a car? (much cooler, imo)

Why not both?

How about lifting a car to workout abs