Exercise! Love it or hate it, let's motivate each other to just DO IT!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 07-10-2013, 09:30 AM   #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Palestrina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,607

S/C/G: 215/188/150

Height: 5'4"

Default Sucking your stomach in

Do you make a conscious effort to suck your stomach in all day every day? My mother always tells me I should be doing it all the time but I don't understand why. Does it help you engage your core?
Palestrina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 11:51 AM   #2  
Jessica
 
danzingurl77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 726

S/C/G: 153/132/fit and confident

Height: 5'8"

Default

I do- from my experience it helps my posture which in turn helps back/neck problems and makes my tummy look better anyways- I don't think of "sucking in". Though- more like tightening your abs a little but all day.
danzingurl77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 12:28 PM   #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Palestrina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,607

S/C/G: 215/188/150

Height: 5'4"

Default

Tightening the abs, that's what I meant. My mother swears that it becomes a habit you don't even think about after a while.
Palestrina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 12:35 PM   #4  
Renaissance Woman
 
geoblewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: California, USA
Posts: 2,590

S/C/G: 363/306/185

Height: 5'10.5"

Default

I engage all my abs while I'm doing Pilates every day. But usually only during that hour. I've been practicing Pilates for over three years and I have noticed that during the rest of my day, when I am performing certain tasks that require use of my abs, I am engaging them as if I were in class. So even when I'm driving, abs are engaged as I sit in the car. When I bend over to pull something out of a cabinet, abs are engaged, as are my glutes to help me pick myself up. But I don't consciously suck in my gut all day.
geoblewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 12:38 PM   #5  
I got this
 
amandie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Near St. Louis
Posts: 2,823

S/C/G: 206/162/135

Height: a little over 5'2

Default

My grandma told my mother the same thing and my mom in turn told me the same thing so I don't know if it really works or whatever. I do it whenever I remember and that is usually during exercise, lol.
amandie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 09:51 PM   #6  
*Embrace Power*
 
Pink Hurricane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,302

S/C/G: 332/279.8/195

Height: 5'5

Default

I have to make a conscious effort to do so while working out, relaxing, and working. I don't always do it, but I do try and catch myself to do it when I realize I haven't been tightening my core!
Pink Hurricane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 10:04 PM   #7  
Senior Member
 
GlamourGirl827's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,862

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wannabeskinny View Post
Tightening the abs, that's what I meant. My mother swears that it becomes a habit you don't even think about after a while.
She's right. I've been holding in my tummy (minus being prego) since I was a teen. I don't even realize it. I kind of find it weird that I can now (well not right NOW, not preg, you get the idea) do it all day and not get tired. I mean I would think my abdomen would get sore, but no. Its kind of weird when I let it out on purpose, especially after having kids, a lot comes falling out and hanging over!
GlamourGirl827 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2013, 10:52 PM   #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Palestrina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,607

S/C/G: 215/188/150

Height: 5'4"

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GlamourGirl827 View Post
Its kind of weird when I let it out on purpose, especially after having kids, a lot comes falling out and hanging over!
Haha me too. It's amazing what pregnancy does to your body.
Palestrina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2013, 12:03 AM   #9  
Newbie
 
Miggy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Maryland, US
Posts: 23

S/C/G: 210/*185* ONEDERLAND/150

Height: 5'6"

Default

I have been doing it since I was in middle school I believe, and I would never notice it. Over time, my stomach got firm, and I could see some definition. I would always wonder why I magically got abs without doing any exercise whatsoever.
Miggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2013, 07:12 AM   #10  
Ilene the Bean
 
Ilene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,538

Default

I'm 56 and my mother told me this when I was a teenager , I did it then and still do now... I have passed on this bit of wisdom to my daughter... I really do think it helps your posture and core... Everyone always comments on how flat my stomach is too ....

ETA: If I let my stomach go it actually hurts...

Last edited by Ilene; 07-11-2013 at 07:13 AM.
Ilene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2013, 08:08 AM   #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Palestrina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,607

S/C/G: 215/188/150

Height: 5'4"

Default

Interesting, thank you! Does it actually work out your midsection? Should I be doing it while I'm sitting as well? When I try doing it it hinders my breathing a little, I want to make sure I'm doing it correctly. I've always thought of this as an old wives tale but maybe there's something to it.

Last edited by Palestrina; 07-11-2013 at 08:08 AM.
Palestrina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2013, 12:16 PM   #12  
For Real This Time!
 
mamabear272's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 461

Height: 5' 4.5"

Default

I'm in school for physical therapist assisting and it's not really good to suck your tummy in. It causes you to chest breath. The most effective breathing is diaphragmatic breathing. It strengthens your diaphragm which is your primary breathing muscle. When you breathe, put one hand on your chest and one on your stomach. Your chest should move minimally while your stomach moves a lot. Probably not the answer you were hoping for but, there it is.
mamabear272 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2013, 09:41 PM   #13  
Senior Member
 
GlamourGirl827's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,862

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mamabear272 View Post
I'm in school for physical therapist assisting and it's not really good to suck your tummy in. It causes you to chest breath. The most effective breathing is diaphragmatic breathing. It strengthens your diaphragm which is your primary breathing muscle. When you breathe, put one hand on your chest and one on your stomach. Your chest should move minimally while your stomach moves a lot. Probably not the answer you were hoping for but, there it is.
I'm not talking holding in your tummy with the suck it in might that's got you unable to breath!! lol. I light tightening of your tummy muscles is fine. If you are sucking it in so crazy tight that you can't breath, its ok to take it down a little. I've been doing this forever basically and I don't chest breath. I do it while working out and running, and I'm definitely still doing diaphragmatic breathing and its not causing any issues what so ever.
GlamourGirl827 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2013, 02:21 PM   #14  
For Real This Time!
 
mamabear272's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 461

Height: 5' 4.5"

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GlamourGirl827 View Post
I'm not talking holding in your tummy with the suck it in might that's got you unable to breath!! lol. I light tightening of your tummy muscles is fine. If you are sucking it in so crazy tight that you can't breath, its ok to take it down a little. I've been doing this forever basically and I don't chest breath. I do it while working out and running, and I'm definitely still doing diaphragmatic breathing and its not causing any issues what so ever.
Well suck in away then! Yes I'm aware that sounded bad. Hope I didn't offend.
mamabear272 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2013, 02:23 PM   #15  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Palestrina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,607

S/C/G: 215/188/150

Height: 5'4"

Default

Sucking in was definitely the wrong choice of words on my part. Tightening the abs is more apropos. It's much easier to do while walking, very difficult to do when sitting down.
Palestrina is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Related Topics
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Do you suck in your stomach? kelseyvc General chatter 26 05-25-2012 04:15 PM
Do you "hold your stomach in?" TXMary2 100 lb. Club 24 05-21-2010 09:57 PM
What was your 'this has to change' moment? Shrinkabell Weight Loss Support 32 09-30-2008 08:18 PM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:05 AM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.