Ab Exercise Difficulty

LilacDreamer
LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Here's an odd question i guess....do you HAVE to suck in your stomach when you are exercising (ab exercises or even regular cardio)

I can suck it in like they the dvd exercise programs say to, but when it comes to actually performing an exercise while sucking/tucking it in, I just can't seem to do both at the same time. it seems like it's one or the other.

Does anyone else have this problem, who knows - could just be me.

Replies

  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    Bumping and wanted to add: if anyone has any tips on how to do both at the same time, that would be nice too.
  • ATLMel
    ATLMel Posts: 392 Member
    I try not to think about "sucking it in". That messing with my breath, personally.

    Rather, when doing core/yoga work I think about my belly button being attached to my spine. This helps me keep my core tight and stabilized while working out. Maybe this will help?
  • 1nsanity
    1nsanity Posts: 95 Member
    i agree with ATL. suckin in sounds like youre taking in a deep breath and sucking in your stomach. rather, flex and use your ab muscles to contract your stomach and keep it tight.
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    i agree with ATL. suckin in sounds like youre taking in a deep breath and sucking in your stomach. rather, flex and use your ab muscles to contract your stomach and keep it tight.

    i think part of the issue is, i'm very new to the whole ab thing. i can't see them (have some fat to work through first) and its hard for me to figure out what to do with them during these exercises.

    my rib cage also seems bigger than the average and it seems to stick out. it's kind of in the way.
  • withervein
    withervein Posts: 224 Member
    Rather than suck in.. think about the sort of tensing you would do if you were expecting a punch to the gut.

    You would flex the abs, to absorb the blow, not suck in. Think about maintaining that sort of "prepared" feeling as much as you can. You can even do it while sitting at work, walking around and it will just make you more conscious of your core.

    This is where your stability will come from.
  • Beatlegirl66
    Beatlegirl66 Posts: 68 Member
    I totally have this same problem. My first issue is that when my Zumba instructor says "keep those abs tight!" I am not sure how exactly to do this. So I end up doing something like what I have been doing my whole life when I am talking to people, and I suck in my gut. Then it is really hard to do the routine while trying to suck in.

    Like you, I have never thought about my abs. I am not even sure if I have any since I sure am a far way from seeing them. Working out is still fairly new to me and I was looking for any tips on how to flex your abs and move around at the same time.
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    I totally have this same problem. My first issue is that when my Zumba instructor says "keep those abs tight!" I am not sure how exactly to do this. So I end up doing something like what I have been doing my whole life when I am talking to people, and I suck in my gut. Then it is really hard to do the routine while trying to suck in.

    Like you, I have never thought about my abs. I am not even sure if I have any since I sure am a far way from seeing them. Working out is still fairly new to me and I was looking for any tips on how to flex your abs and move around at the same time.

    Yay someone in the same boat as me. I'm gonna add you, maybe we can figure this out together.
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