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DGALANTINI
Posts: 274 11/21/09 5:51 P
Lots of cardio! And planks or push ups! Pilates may also be helpful.
PS: I have the same problem. But hey, who doesn't!
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SANDIE65803
Posts: 146 11/21/09 2:41 P
I find putting your organs in place very helful if not essential. This move "putting your organs in place" is a t-tapp move. T-tapp is named after the creator Teresa Tapp. Its kind of a hybrid of yoga and pilates. I believe the instruction for this move are on her try before you buy on her web site at t-tapp.com Combine "organs in place" with her "Half frogs" and you'll see amazing results fast!
JULIE74079, I think this is an issue almost all women face. The most effective exercises that I have found to strengthen and tighten the lower abs are bicyles and planks. You can get really creative with the planks - on your hands, on your elbows, feet on a stability ball, hands on a stability ball, side planks, reverse planks, etc. Also watch your posture. Always pull up tall through the crown of your head.
Ultimately, however, I agree with Rena that great abs are made in the kitchen not the gym. Best of luck!
JRDJACKSON
Posts: 14 11/20/09 11:40 P
These suggestions are helpful. Thanks!
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MYGEORGE
SparkPoints: (43,041)
Fitness Minutes: (49,907)
Posts: 2,230 11/20/09 11:10 P
80-100 crunches daily. I also LOVE the Spark 6 minute butt video. I do cardiowalks every other day and toning the other days. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't be afraid to give it a push. Have a great weekend. :)
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
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RENA1965
Posts: 11,344 11/20/09 10:22 P
Great abs are made in the kitchen with super lean nutrition.. Sure genetic can be blamed on everything, but I lost 4 jeans sizes efter my tummy tuck- so I don't buy genetics anymore.. I don't have a ounce weight loss to show for these 4 jean sizes and I eat around 2300 calories on maintenance. It is so about how you use your calories if the body is still doing it job burning fat off.. The stomach is a popular storeage area for fat. If you train hard for a year or so and have also tried the transversus vaccum exercise which can be found on utube and is a stomach posture exercise. The last result is a tummy tuck.. Many women say train and this apron will disappear, BUT it depends how much weight a person has carried- many times it is excess skin which is wrecked by being overweight, jo jo dieting and having large babies..
Edited by: RENA1965 at: 11/20/2009 (22:24)
"I shall shape my future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me. Or I can be lost in the maze. My choice. My responsbility. Win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny." -google first. ask questions later ¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨) ¸.·*¨) (***Rena ***) (¸.·´~ (¸.·* ~ (¸.·*
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BARDOBARON
Posts: 145 11/20/09 9:09 P
Ditto to what everyone else said.
You can work on building muscle, or you can work on reducing calories to burn fat, but there's no controlling where that fat comes off (arms, belly, legs, face). Still, if you've got good musculature and low body fat generally, you'll look and feel good. Focusing on one aspect can be often frustrating and futile, but a looking at the whole picture can be quite rewarding.
Here's a great explanation about some of the most basic myths that are floating around out there.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightTraining/Myths .html
BRENDAS24
SparkPoints: (3,927)
Fitness Minutes: (4,799)
Posts: 313 11/19/09 7:56 A
same problem here!
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SIPHOS
Posts: 30 11/19/09 1:35 A
This is something I've been musing over lately. I just started belly dancing classes, and my teacher is a national award winning belly dancer who dances for hours a day. You will not find a woman with a firmer cardio routine or stronger abs on the planet.
And guess what? She has some ab flab. She can make her stomach do things that look physically impossible, but she has nothing even resembling a six pack. People still pay her hundreds of dollars to come to their parties so that they can look at her stomach for an hour. She's gorgeous.
Since joining her class, I have stopped caring about my own ab flab. All I want are the muscles, and anything on top of that doesn't matter. If you're in the great shape your routine suggests, I'd stop worrying about it. As you lose weight the flab will subside, but you can't control it and I don't think you need to worry.
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ALPHAPREP
SparkPoints: (7,503)
Fitness Minutes: (7,704)
Posts: 409 11/18/09 11:42 P
Hi Julie!
Alas, there is no special cure for the flab on the abs - other than continuing on your weight loss journey. I have less than 15 pounds to go to my goal weight, and lo and behold that area (and my upper arms) seem to be the last holdouts. For most people, it really all depends on your body type, and alas, genetics.
You can focus on reducing your body fat percentage, which it seems that you are doing - and try mixing up your exercise - you might consider adding a pilates or yoga session. Good luck!!
Any recommendations on which exercises tend to be the most effective. How much time do you recommend be spent on cardio daily Thanks
One day at a time
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SP_COACH_NANCY
SparkPoints: (87,280)
Fitness Minutes: (51,975)
Posts: 25,147 11/18/09 5:08 P
Julie,
There is only so many ab exercises and cardio we can do, however, many times it just takes time. Where we store fat and how quickly it rebounds is based a lot on genetics. Unfortunately, we cannot spot reduce, but you can spot train.
Be well! Nancy
"The finishing of a marathon bestows a unique sense of worth that can last for a lifetime - regardless of finish time. We need to salute the efforts of those at the back who did not inherit the genetic material to run on a collegiate cross country team, but who inserted training into busy career and family schedules, improved their health and inspire others." Jeff Galloway
RRCA Certified Running Coach
Member of the Road Runners Club of America; USAT&F; Dallas Running Club; Plan
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JULIE74079
Posts: 42 11/18/09 4:59 P
How do I get rid of the flab on my lower stomach. I do abd exercises 5 days a week, and cardio 5 days a week.. My overall muscle tone is improving but I have that flab esp over that area.. Any suggestions?
On World Vegetarian Day, most people aren't willing to trade in their turkey for tofurkey. Luckily, you can still reap the benefits of vegetarianism by trying flexitarianism on for size.