Good ab exercises?

Famof72015
Famof72015 Posts: 393 Member
I have 5 kiddos ages 8-1 so I do have diaStis recti but I don't want to avoid my stomach area. Was doing planks got up to 4 minutes then was told to NOT do exercises where you are pushing stomach out, sit upS, planks... now not sure what to do.
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Replies

  • MemoGamal2017
    MemoGamal2017 Posts: 1 Member
    Always i am afraid to work out for stomach due to that reason
  • gregbrown24
    gregbrown24 Posts: 27 Member
    I love doing hanging leg raise and knee raises.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Always i am afraid to work out for stomach due to that reason

    You gave birth to five kids?
  • mmmpork
    mmmpork Posts: 133 Member
    You shouldn't be pushing your stomach out when doing planks and situps. If you do have a medical condition, then consider working with a Physical Therapist. Once you've made progress in PT and have gotten the ok, you might check out pilates, reformer is best but mat will still work. I started doing Pilates after I finishing PT from a back injury and it's been really amazing. You learn a lot about your body and how it feels to move "correctly" (and therefore avoid injury).
  • Lolalikeslolagets
    Lolalikeslolagets Posts: 142 Member
    I noticed a huge difference once I started lifting.. Overhead squats or overhead walking lunges, movements like that.. hanging leg raises..
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    I would definitely look into getting a PT. Last thing you want to do is make the issue worse by doing the wrong combination of moves.
  • jada8023
    jada8023 Posts: 5 Member
    @emilk2016 can you please tell me what the overhead squats and overhead walking lunges are?
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    jada8023 wrote: »
    @emilk2016 can you please tell me what the overhead squats and overhead walking lunges are?

    It's literally squats and walking lunges, holding the bar at full extension above your head, often in a snatch (wide) grip.
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    Squats, planks, hanging leg raises. There' s nothing wrong with planking so dunno who told the OP that. Oh, and if you're pushing your stomach out during a plank, you're doing it wrong. ;)
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    Yeah, planking is only bad if your technique is bad, pushing your tummy out is poor technique.

    Do you do other strength exercises, like the above squats and lunges even without weight? You engage your core to stabilise during those movements (and really, you can engage your core in upper body strength too, you just have to think about more) so it's being worked during those movement. Personally I don't do a lot of core isolation work, particularly crunch variations that involve leg drops because I have a clunky hip that makes it uncomfortable. But it's fine due to everything else I do.
  • Famof72015
    Famof72015 Posts: 393 Member
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!

    Yea nope. ;) If you want better abs, you need planks. Just my opinion. The person doing them and giving you that advice might be referring to loose skin in the abdomen area hanging when doing planks. I have some of that and it isn't pretty lol, but it certainly has nothing to do with my ab muscles. Planks + side planks daily here. I never could get any decent definition in my abdomen before them, now after almost six months doing planks daily I'm starting to see results. If you do nothing else, do planks.
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Yea nope ;), lol. You don't need planks.. you need core engagement. You can do that without planks.

    Agreed. I like planks because they engage more of your core at the same time. But there are many other options.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!

    Yea nope. ;) If you want better abs, you need planks. Just my opinion. The person doing them and giving you that advice might be referring to loose skin in the abdomen area hanging when doing planks. I have some of that and it isn't pretty lol, but it certainly has nothing to do with my ab muscles. Planks + side planks daily here. I never could get any decent definition in my abdomen before them, now after almost six months doing planks daily I'm starting to see results. If you do nothing else, do planks.

    Yea nope ;), lol. You don't need planks.. you need core engagement. You can do that without planks.

    I have also heard planks (pretty much anything where your belly faces the floor) can make diastasis recti worse.. as well as crunches and sit-ups.. but I am no expert, I would definitely talk to your doctor or PT for recommendations!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    sardelsa wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!

    Yea nope. ;) If you want better abs, you need planks. Just my opinion. The person doing them and giving you that advice might be referring to loose skin in the abdomen area hanging when doing planks. I have some of that and it isn't pretty lol, but it certainly has nothing to do with my ab muscles. Planks + side planks daily here. I never could get any decent definition in my abdomen before them, now after almost six months doing planks daily I'm starting to see results. If you do nothing else, do planks.

    Yea nope ;), lol. You don't need planks.. you need core engagement. You can do that without planks.

    I have also heard planks (pretty much anything where your belly faces the floor) can make diastasis recti worse.. as well as crunches and sit-ups.. but I am no expert, I would definitely talk to your doctor or PT for recommendations!

    They only time you will see me in plank position is when I am doing pushups. Just not worth my time.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!

    Yea nope. ;) If you want better abs, you need planks. Just my opinion. The person doing them and giving you that advice might be referring to loose skin in the abdomen area hanging when doing planks. I have some of that and it isn't pretty lol, but it certainly has nothing to do with my ab muscles. Planks + side planks daily here. I never could get any decent definition in my abdomen before them, now after almost six months doing planks daily I'm starting to see results. If you do nothing else, do planks.

    Yea nope ;), lol. You don't need planks.. you need core engagement. You can do that without planks.

    I have also heard planks (pretty much anything where your belly faces the floor) can make diastasis recti worse.. as well as crunches and sit-ups.. but I am no expert, I would definitely talk to your doctor or PT for recommendations!

    They only time you will see me in plank position is when I am doing pushups. Just not worth my time.

    If I am doing a plank it is usually an RKC plank because glutes ;)
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    If you have diastase recti it would be best for you to discuss it with your dr and get a referral to a specializing pt. Some exercises can hinder not help abdominal recover.

    I am not sure of the veracity of this link, but it may be a starting point talking with a dr or pt.

    http://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/12-weeks-of-workouts-to-rebuild-after-diastasis-recti

    Cheers, h.
  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I engaged my core all the time even when not working out, so of course I engage it while doing planks someone had told me that planks and sit ups naturally your stomach is pushed out when doing those, so to avoid. Thanks for all the tips!!

    Yea nope. ;) If you want better abs, you need planks. Just my opinion. The person doing them and giving you that advice might be referring to loose skin in the abdomen area hanging when doing planks. I have some of that and it isn't pretty lol, but it certainly has nothing to do with my ab muscles. Planks + side planks daily here. I never could get any decent definition in my abdomen before them, now after almost six months doing planks daily I'm starting to see results. If you do nothing else, do planks.

    Yea nope ;), lol. You don't need planks.. you need core engagement. You can do that without planks.

    I have also heard planks (pretty much anything where your belly faces the floor) can make diastasis recti worse.. as well as crunches and sit-ups.. but I am no expert, I would definitely talk to your doctor or PT for recommendations!

    Yes many traditional ab exercises can definitely make diastasis recti worse. I'm adding to the "talk to a PT or your Dr." crowd.
  • Famof72015
    Famof72015 Posts: 393 Member
    Will do. Have a appointment end of the month. Thanks
  • Lolalikeslolagets
    Lolalikeslolagets Posts: 142 Member
    jada8023 wrote: »
    @emilk2016 can you please tell me what the overhead squats and overhead walking lunges are?

    Sorry just caught this! Looks like some others answered .. ill use a barbell for the squats (im still just shy of lifting 100 pounds but whatevs, it's a super hard movement) and a plate for the lunges but dumbbells are tougher because it's harder to stabilize. Form is super important (and mobility), take your time though. I like all the overhead movements because it's all core stability plus other strength stuff. Handstands are fun too...
  • Lolalikeslolagets
    Lolalikeslolagets Posts: 142 Member
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    I have 5 kiddos ages 8-1 so I do have diaStis recti but I don't want to avoid my stomach area. Was doing planks got up to 4 minutes then was told to NOT do exercises where you are pushing stomach out, sit upS, planks... now not sure what to do.

    just reread your post that you DO have diastis recti- sorry never mind.. don't listen to me until you ask a professional! If you still have separation after one year post partum that's definitely a question for your dr...
  • _Phill727
    _Phill727 Posts: 57 Member
    Anyone ever do GHD sit ups? They shred my core quicker than anything
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    I think ab rope pull downs, wipers, leg raises (toes to bar) and suit cases with a dumbbell between your feet are the best.

    I will never do a crunch, plank, situp or side lean those are a waste of time in my opinion.
  • gradchica27
    gradchica27 Posts: 777 Member
    edited March 2017
    My friend with diastisis swears by the MuTu system for closing the gap--worth looking into and asking your doctor.

    https://mutusystem.com/mutu-system-feb
  • slacker80
    slacker80 Posts: 235 Member
    Most of everything above is a waste of time if your hitting all your compound lifts passionately. Bleh, I sometimes do abs just to show off a bit but we can do something better with our time.
    I get it tho. Sometimes I wrap things up with a few leg lifts just so not only do I look tight, but I feel tight. Peace of mind perhaps.
    Anyways I'm 36, full time job, with children and I was overweight from adolescents and into my 20's. All I do is eat sensible and squeeze the core on "EVERYTHING" else I do. Especially on those unilateral movements, half the workout is on the core when training unilaterally.
  • fit4lifee1986
    fit4lifee1986 Posts: 4 Member
    Ab roller!
  • stripeybelly
    stripeybelly Posts: 20 Member
    Yoga.
  • hanibunni
    hanibunni Posts: 9 Member
    Deadlift, squat, hanging leg raises & Turkish get ups :)
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