running?, does it work? Options

[x1_krazie_ladie]

uh...so i heard like running helps u gets abs? i dont know but you see i'm one of those lazy ppl who just spends time on the computer all the time .. and the weather in vancouver is getting really cold...so can any1 have any good but not really hard to do excercises that i can flatten my tummy? my tummy's getting bigger and bigger cuz of the lack of excercise i get and all that junk food i eat ...and it'd be cool if some1 can suggest a way for me to stop eating food other then breakfast lunch afterschool snack and dinner

sorry if there's one like this already

[*mipadi*]

I dunno, just don't eat bad snack foods. And run. Running is good. If it's too cold to run, do something indoors, like racquetball. And do sit-ups.

[Spirited Away]

Running will help you lose fat, but it will not develope muscles for your abs unless you do sprints, which are anaerobic and may help in developing muscles.

You don't have to run to get a good fat-burning cardio session in. Lets see, jump rope is something you can do indoors. Also, you can get one of those instructional cardio videos, like tae bo or kickboxing, and work a sweat indoors. Then do crunches or use an exercise ball to work on your abs.

Remember though, it's always best to work opposing mucles as well. Meaning if you work on your abs, try to work on your lower back, too. The exercise ball is a great tool for working your core.

Sorry, I have nothing to suggest about your eating problem. That's where you're on your own. No matter what people tell you, to stuff junk down your throat or not is your own choice in the end.

[-lana]

Sit-up helps develope abs. (= I use to do 100 a day.. but that's obviously not working out anymore. xD.
Umm, if you're not 'use' to sit-ups yet, do ten sit-ups one night, then the next night do 20, and the next night 30, and so on.

[x1_krazie_ladie]

heh heh silly question: does developing abs help u slim down u're hips and waistline too? lol kind of just wondering

[bijou]

does developing abs help u slim down u're hips and waistline too? lol kind of just wondering

No, it doesn't.

If you want a flat abdomen, you need to:

1) Eat properly: cut out or cut down on the junk, increase intake of healthier foods ie. fruit, veggies, grains........, increase water intake.

2) Exercise, you won't flatten your stomach by doing 100 crunches a day. You need to have a cardiovascular routine and it is true that it doesn't have to be running, for many of my clients, walking briskly is enough. You also need to do exercises that will strengthen your abdomen. Some require equipment, others don't but you can have a nice abdomen without equipment.

3) Liposuction or an abdominoplasty..........

[tequila_sky]

my problem zone is my stomach so I am on a diet which is for pple with my shape. Mainly you get rid of the red meats, fats. Eat lots of fibre- bread (brown one) pasta, etc. Replace meats with tofu and have lots of fruit, veg. The usual. I also think you should do running, or static bike, or jumping rope. (all help tpo get rid of extra fat)(I run in place) If u like you can go to www.self.com they have lots of abs excercises with pics and all. I read its not quantity but quality. Many have told me Pilates worked for them to get a flat belly. ::good luck::

[o0olaalaa]

crunches help =) my friend does 200 a day

[x1_krazie_ladie]

alrighty...hmm..so crunches are like half sit ups right? but then when i do sit ups my feet/legs move and i have to have some weight on it like i put my feet under my bed...cuz its really low like 5 cm above ground or so? does that affect getting abs? and also isnt crunches only for the upper abs? what about the lower abs?

[eccentricity__]

running will help you lose stomach fat, but not develop abs.

trust me, i have the same problem as you.

i dont care if im fat over the winter though, it's not as though i wear shorts or something. I usually lose weight third trimester in prep for the summer :P

[aera]

you get abs by getting rid of the layer of fat on top of it.

running can help a little, but you still have to do situps and crunches.

[xXYouMeBedNowXx]

It will help you, yes. For all we you know, you may have the most developed six-pack there is on the planet, but it's just hiding and invisible under that layer of fat over that belly. I'm a cross country runner, and believe me, it'll get you to a weight and a fat level you'll probably be happy with:

BEFORE
210 Pounds
32% Body Fat Percentage

NOW
165 Pounds
8% Body Fat Percentage

I am not kidding. Even at 8% Body Fat though, I still don't have that six pack showing any. But you can definetly bet that abs aren't the only thing you need to look good. ;)

[x1_krazie_ladie]

^ WOW? did all that running do that to u? but how do u know how much body fat u have?

[CrookedCriticism]

alrighty...hmm..so crunches are like half sit ups right? but then when i do sit ups my feet/legs move and i have to have some weight on it like i put my feet under my bed...cuz its really low like 5 cm above ground or so? does that affect getting abs? and also isnt crunches only for the upper abs? what about the lower abs?

there's no such thing as lower abs. The abs are one muscle and it contracts as a whole.

To get a flat stomach you need to EAT HEALTHY and do some form of cardio at least 3xs a week. You can't spot reduce fat, you have to get rid of it all of your body, so hundreds of crunches a day wont help. Your abs are like any other muscle and need at least 2 days of rest before you work them again.

[simx]

sit-ups and running kinda go together... you won't build up your abdomen muscles if you just do a bunch of sit ups... you have to do cardio and muscle toning together

[demolished]

there's no such thing as lower abs.  The abs are one muscle and it contracts as a whole. 

To get a flat stomach you need to EAT HEALTHY and do some form of cardio at least 3xs a week.  You can't spot reduce fat, you have to get rid of it all of your body, so hundreds of crunches a day wont help.  Your abs are like any other muscle and need at least 2 days of rest before you work them again.

What? There's lower, middle, and upper abs.

[CrookedCriticism]

What? There's lower, middle, and upper abs. 

nope, it's one muscle, you can't stimulate part of a muscle without stimulating the whole thing.

[demolished]

Oh i see ... was confuse for the whole time. thanks.

[Spirited Away]

there's no such thing as lower abs.  The abs are one muscle and it contracts as a whole.  

To get a flat stomach you need to EAT HEALTHY and do some form of cardio at least 3xs a week.  You can't spot reduce fat, you have to get rid of it all of your body, so hundreds of crunches a day wont help.  Your abs are like any other muscle and need at least 2 days of rest before you work them again.

Um there are the transversus abdominus, external oblique muscles, rectus abdominus, and internal oblique muscles. These make up your Abdominal Muscles. Though it's true that you cannot spot reduce fat, there are exercises that can strengthen all four muscle groups, but that does not mean any one exercise can work all four groups, a few may do (Eg, crunches).

nope, it's one muscle, you can't stimulate part of a muscle without stimulating the whole thing.

And, yes, there are such things as lower, upper and oblique abdominal muscles.
Neurologists and kinesthislogists would agree.

[CrookedCriticism]

Um there are the transversus abdominus, external oblique muscles, rectus abdominus, and internal oblique muscles. These make up your Abdominal Muscles. Though it's true that you cannot spot reduce fat, there are exercises that can strengthen all four muscle groups, but that does not mean any one exercise can work all four groups, a few may do (Eg, crunches).
And, yes, there are such things as lower, upper and oblique abdominal muscles.
Neurologists and kinesthislogists would agree.

can you name the lower abs, or point it out on an anatomy chart for me please? And the obliques are a totally different muscle...

[Spirited Away]

can you name the lower abs, or point it out on an anatomy chart for me please?  And the obliques are a totally different muscle...

1) Ab muscles below the navel work are generally called 'lower abs'. Any more questions?
2) Here's one of my own: how are external/internal obliques totally different when they are part of four groups that make the abdominal muscles? That's what I learned in anatomy and physiology and from my personal trainer, though I could be wrong.

[CrookedCriticism]

1) Ab muscles below the navel work are generally called 'lower abs'. Any more questions?
2) Here's one of my own: how are external/internal obliques totally different when they are part of four groups that make the abdominal muscles? That's what I learned in anatomy and physiology and from my personal trainer, though I could be wrong.

1. I was looking for a scientific name. The rectus abdomins make up both the upper and lower portion of the stomach...

2. They are not part of the rectus abdominis is what i'm saying.

Heres an anatomy chart, as you can see their are no lower abs, it's all the rectus abdomins.

[Spirited Away]

1. I was looking for a scientific name.  The rectus abdomins make up both the upper and lower portion of the stomach...

2. They are not part of the rectus abdominis is what i'm saying.

Heres an anatomy chart, as you can see their are no lower abs, it's all the rectus abdomins.
http://www.ifafitness.com/book1/anatomy.gif

1) Why would there be a specified scientific name when professionals and highly educated men and women will understand what parts of the body you're referring to when you say "lower abs"? If you're still doubting this, go talk to a kinesthislogists or a certified personal trainer who are, most likely, the first ones to coin the term. Again, I took college A and P, I know what and where the 'rectus abdominus' is, but the LOWER muscles are WIDELY known as the 'lower abs". Thus the "lower abs" do exists because they would be the lower parts of the rectus abdominus (ie muscles below the navel).

2) Um, the rectus adominus does not make up your abdominal muscles on their own and we are talking about abdominal muscles as a whole, not just the rectus abdominus. And no, you said and I quote "the abs are one muscle" which is very misleading. It's consisted of four groups of muscles that includes the obliques.

[CrookedCriticism]

1) Why would there be a specified scientific name when professionals and highly educated men and women will understand what parts of the body you're referring to when you say "lower abs"? If you're still doubting this, go talk to a kinesthislogists or a certified personal trainer who are, most likely, the first ones to coin the term. Again, I took college A and P, I know what and where the 'rectus abdominus' is, but the LOWER muscles are WIDELY known as the 'lower abs". Thus the "lower abs" do exists because they would be the lower parts of the rectus abdominus (ie muscles below the navel).

2) Um, the rectus adominus does not make up your abdominal muscles on their own and we are talking about abdominal muscles as a whole, not just the rectus abdominus. And no, you said and I quote "the abs are one muscle" which is very misleading. It's consisted of four groups of muscles that includes the obliques.

1. How would there not be a scientific name for it? You know why don't you, because it's all the rectus abdomins. I know a someone who's studying kinesiology who posts on another forum and he strongly agrees that the their are no such things as lower abs. Certified personal trainer? What makes you so sure they know what they're talking about. It would really depend on their certificate and how much they actually know, they could be feeding you a bunch of bull and you wouldn't know it.

2. I was just taking about the rectus abdomins being one muscle. The obliques and the rectus abdomins are not the same muscle, that's what i'm trying to say.

Heres some stuff to read.

http://www.ironmagazine.com/modules.php?na...=article&sid=42

http://exrx.net/WeightTraining/Myths.html#anchor7441959

and heres a quote to chew on...

"Do you know anything about physiology and how the human body works? If you did, then you would know that you can not shape a muscle. Rectus abdominus has an insertion point at the crest of the pubis, and three portions of unequal size into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. So when the muscle contracts, it contracts as a whole. You cant contract the lower or upper more than the other."

Thats not saying you shouldnt do different exercises.. but you CANT "build your lower abs".

[Spirited Away]

1. How would there not be a scientific name for it?  You know why don't you, because it's all the rectus abdomins.  I know a someone who's studying kinesiology who posts on another forum and he strongly agrees that the their are no such things as lower abs.  Certified personal trainer?  What makes you so sure they know what they're talking about.  It would really depend on their certificate  and how much they actually know, they could be feeding you a bunch of bull and you wouldn't know it.

2. I was just taking about the rectus abdomins being one muscle.  The obliques and the rectus abdomins are not the same muscle, that's what i'm trying to say.

Heres some stuff to read. 

http://www.ironmagazine.com/modules.php?na...=article&sid=42

http://exrx.net/WeightTraining/Myths.html#anchor7441959

and heres a quote to chew on...

"Do you know anything about physiology and how the human body works? If you did, then you would know that you can not shape a muscle. Rectus abdominus has an insertion point at the crest of the pubis, and three portions of unequal size into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. So when the muscle contracts, it contracts as a whole. You cant contract the lower or upper more than the other."

Thats not saying you shouldnt do different exercises.. but you CANT "build your lower abs".

1) Here's something for you to gnaw on, it's fine with me if you don't take my word it, but please go talk to actual kinesthislogists. I'm not pulling this information out of my ass, you know? What part of "coining" a term don't you understand? It's a 'lingo' to describe the lower rectus abdominus. Whether or not you can work it is something beyond me to cover. Here, if you want to show internet sources, I can do that, too, so please check the end of this post for the 5+ sources that say otherwise—lower abs wise—about your own sources. Thanks. Oh about my Personal Trainers. Would you like me to post credentials? I can take pictures of their list of credentials, it's posted on the wall of my YMCA's Wellness Center. Though, I'd have to cross out their names, privacy reasons, you understand. Well, I guess I can go ahead and tell them what I'm doing so I can quote them with names. Whatever you'd like.

2) That's nice and all, but what you said, and I already quoted you once but here it is "the abs are one muscle". Maybe it would have been more clear had you said the rectus abdominus is one muscle. I would have agreed then with no qualms.

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/training...-leg-raises.htm -exercises for the lower abs.
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/...itness_tip.html- books about hitting the lower abs.
http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/rockie5.htm - "The abdominal region is composed of the upper and lower abs, as well as the obliques"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunch_%28exercise%29-wikipedia talks about reverse crunches work the lower abs.
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0689.htm-researchers will study the amount of activity in the upper, lower, and oblique muscles...
http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/David_Hawk062205.asp-CBN. You know, the TV station. Haha, kind of weird that they have abs exercise tips, but there they are.

Ah, this is getting old. It's fine if you don't agree. Terms are just terms to me.