From belly pooch to a flat tummy!

I learned a trick from my former trainer - when working out and doing ab exercises or any cardio type workouts that involve your core, wear a pair of Spanx 1 size smaller than you are. I wear them under my workout pants, it forces me to engage my abs and really work at keeping my core tight. I have a LARGE pooch (but I still have 100lbs to lose) and I can already feel the difference in my ab area.

1) Patience
2) cardio
3) water
4) the plank

Not necessarily in that order but a combination of those things has helped me.

I do cardio (work out about 5 days a week) mixed in with weight lifting and ab workouts. I use two apps to give me the workouts I need to do: Fleety and Fitness Buddy. My "pooch" (lol) has gone down significantly!

Honestly, for everyone its going to be different. You also cannot spot reduce fat. You can, however, help build the muscles underneath so that when the fat does come off you will have strong muscles underneath.

Best exercises I do for lower abs are planks, leg raises, reverse crunches.

As far as diet is concerned, I eat at a calorie deficit, and eat what I like in moderation. Eating sugar or carbs has not effected my ability to lose weight, and I am at my goal weight now.

Do what feels right to you, that you will stick with long term.

What does calorie deficit mean? Excuse my ignorance lol

Eating at a calorie deficit means eating less calories than you consume.

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I've lost a significant amount of body fat (31% to 20%)and I still have a small pooch. (maybe 5-10 more pounds?) strength training is what's worked for me. Ps try the 30day shred?

omg! WTH is BUMP???

It is a way to type something so that it goes in "my topics" That way you can come back and see the answer later. I had to ask that once too.

That's not actually what it is :P

When you "bump" a thread you bump it up on the most recent posts. That way if you start a thread it stays on the front page/active threads.
The definition of BUMP is "Bring Up My Post"
 

I must be old but what is this BUMP? Am i totally out of the internet loop?

Got it! Bring Up My Post!!!!! Yay

thats what i wanna know too! its rather frickin annoying! lol

http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/3-Killer-Core-Exercises.htm

I still have some belly fat but I can really tell a difference since I've been doing more core exercises. I have see the best results with what my trainer calls Core Drags; the link above refers to them as Alligator Drags. They are hard as hell when you first start doing them but they really produce results! I can actually see tone and definition in my abdominal section since I've been doing these during my workouts.

Alligator Drag

Why it works: This ab toner uses your entire core to keep your body stabilized and burns additional calories by adding movement (dragging yourself along the floor). It mixes cardio, stability, and strength training to get you fast results.

How to do it:

Find a stretch of floor that allows you to go forward 10 to 20 yards, and grab anything that will slide over the surface with minimal friction. Dinner plates or plastic bags might work on a carpeted floor, while towels might work on wood or tile. (if you’re outdoors, a wheeled device like a skateboard works well).
Start in push-up position with your feet on the slides, towels, or plates. (NOTICE: Straight line from ankle to knee, to hip, to shoulders. No hip dippin’)
Walk yourself forward with your hands to the end of your runway (aim for at least 10 yards). Rest and repeat the alligator walk backwards to where you started. That’s one set. Repeat 2-3 times.
Tip: walking yourself backwards uses a different part of the muscle. If you’re short on space, you can also move forwards & back (6 paces forward, 6 back etc.) instead of doing the paces.

Fit It In A Quick Workout (15 minutes)

1 Minute Cardio (alternating jumping jacks, high knees & squat jumps)

1 Minute Lower Body (alternating reverse lunges, isometric squat & side to side lunges)

1 Minute Alligator Drag (back & forth, or doing the paces). At your own pace.

1 Minute Cardio (alternating jumping jacks, high knees & squat jumps)

Rest 1 Minute & repeat the circuit 3 times. (alternate your cardio/lower body option each time you go through the circuit).

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