Situps/Crunches

[steve threlfall]

Shiny new forum

How do you trim the flab from your abs (if you do anything at all)?

I normally do some situps every other day for a bit of toning.

How about everyone else?

[0iD]

don't forget your lower abs & obliques.

[Lee H]

Rollerblading.

I kid you not the workout on the lower abs, legs and everything while jumping about like a loony keeps me nice and slim

Occasionally I'll do situp's - 50 at a time, sometimes more if I've not been on the beers

[Taz]

Let's get one thing absolutely clear: no amount of situps/crunches will trim flab from your belly! This is such a popular misconception.

Unfortunately, fat around your stomach area is not only the most dangerous type of fat in your body but is also the hardest to shift.

The only way of getting rid of it is to burn more calories than you are taking in without actually starving yourself. A long-term cardiovascular fitness programme is the best way to get rid of fat. Aim for around 1-2KG per month and exercise reguarly.

Doing situps/crunches will certainly tone the abdominal muscles but won't really get rid of the flab. However, situps/crunches are still good as part of a regular workout as when the flab does eventually come of then people will see your six-pack!

[0iD]

Why have a six pack when you can have a barrel

[steve threlfall]

Let's get one thing absolutely clear: no amount of situps/crunches will trim flab from your belly! This is such a popular misconception.

Unfortunately, fat around your stomach area is not only the most dangerous type of fat in your body but is also the hardest to shift.

The only way of getting rid of it is to burn more calories than you are taking in without actually starving yourself. A long-term cardiovascular fitness programme is the best way to get rid of fat. Aim for around 1-2KG per month and exercise reguarly.

Doing situps/crunches will certainly tone the abdominal muscles but won't really get rid of the flab. However, situps/crunches are still good as part of a regular workout as when the flab does eventually come of then people will see your six-pack!

Ah, now this is interesting.

I have read that to have visible abs you should concentrate on losing body fat. For an average man to have visible abs you should have about 12% body fat? im not sure how true this is really but it makes sense at least.

I would like to get rid of my man boobs (excess fat, not real ones ) and have visible abs and so it would seem the answer is to lose bodyfat. This is what confuses me... i am 6' and weigh 12stone. The only real body fat i have is the annoyingly hard to shift kind on my chest and abs (actually there is not too much is around the stomach area, its mostly on the chest tbh)

12stone seems to be a good weight for me as i look healthy, not too thin etc. I have been 10stone in the past but i still had the stubborn chest and stomach fat. So presumably i need to lose fat but stay the same weight i am now but this will surely prove tricky.

I really dont want to lose weight and i would like to put on some muscle if im honest.

[steve threlfall]

Why have a six pack when you can have a barrel

hehe a keg belly would really make me look out of proportion. I would enjoy getting it though. I have never met a calorie i didnt like be it from beer or post pub meat pies/pizza

[UKMuFFiN]

well muscle weighs more than fat, so if you loose the fat and gain the muscle you may even put on weight, which is good if its muscle, i need to do the same thing but theres no excuse for me, its just complete lack of excersise

[Taz]

@Steve Threlfall: Maybe you ought to do more resistence/weight training. If you are very lean and don't have a six-pack then situps/crunches will develop those muscles and they will show through eventually. But as I said before, if you have a lot of flab around your belly then a cardio exercise programme is your only hope.

You can show a 6-pack with far more body fat than 12% so there's hope for many of us!

The man-boobs thing is interesting. If you develop your chest then your man-boobs may become even more pronounced!

@UKMuFFin: Yes, muscle does weigh more than fat and in the early stages of a fitness programme you may actually put on weight. However, it is good to have a high precentage of muscle in your body as muscle burns calories constantly. The more muscle fibre in your body, the more calories your body will burn even by doing nothing.

[UKMuFFiN]

The more muscle fibre in your body, the more calories your body will burn even by doing nothing.

treat!

im glad this thread started

[jamena]

i am 6' and weigh 12stone

heh, I'm an inch or two over 6' and weigh 16.5-17 stone I'm heavily built and probably a little too high in fat%, but then again not really what I'd call "fat" I try to make the gym twice a week for some CV and perhaps a little go on the machines, and I play squash/badminton/etc occasionally. Build up your fitness levels, and if you want to keep the energy up without cutting the eating down too much try replacing some of the fat and carbs in your diet with protein. Just don't overdo it Moderation. After all, who is going to keep up going to the gym 5 days a week? Not me!

[0iD]

I'm 5' 10 1/2" & weigh 13st 10.5 lbs. Been a gym regular for over 20 years. 3/4 times a week is enough for me.

rofl

[autopilot]

Let's get one thing absolutely clear: no amount of situps/crunches will trim flab from your belly! This is such a popular misconception.

Unfortunately, fat around your stomach area is not only the most dangerous type of fat in your body but is also the hardest to shift.

The only way of getting rid of it is to burn more calories than you are taking in without actually starving yourself. A long-term cardiovascular fitness programme is the best way to get rid of fat. Aim for around 1-2KG per month and exercise reguarly.

Doing situps/crunches will certainly tone the abdominal muscles but won't really get rid of the flab. However, situps/crunches are still good as part of a regular workout as when the flab does eventually come of then people will see your six-pack!

He's right. Although indirectly it can help reduce the belly fat because it will tighen your gut up and you will A) End up eating less, and B) look thinner because you gut will be pulled in.

As with all workouts, but especially ab work, the key is variation and doing different types of excercise. I.e One day do situps, the next day do horizontal bycicle kicks, the next day do knee lifts, etc, etc. This is because the human body adapts very quickly and your excersing will become less and less effective.

But yes, heathly eating and good fat buring excersice (different from cardio - certain heart rates burn fat faster) is the key to losing the beer belly when combined with a good ab workout routine. But there still well worth doing, i know plenty of people who are extremely fit but still have a belly because the dont do much excersice.

(god, i cant spell for toffee doday).

[UKMuFFiN]

horizontal bycicle kicks

care to explain!

[BEANFro Elite]

I'm 6' 1 and weigh 11.5 stone...

I do 50 press ups and 170 sit-ups every night before bed, been doing it since last November from which I started from 10 press ups and 30 sit ups...

I'm now deceptively strong and stocky now

All my shirts are now tight around the chest area and the upper arms, and have a finely cut six pack :d

It nice seeing the look on peoples faces when the say something like "you look weak" or "hey boney" and then you tense an arm and they're like :O

I personally recommend doing press ups and sit ups, as its good for you, makes you really strong and makes you the awe of the ladies and the envy of your friends

[UKMuFFiN]

good job, but isnt it sposed to be better to do them in the morning first thing?