Hi guys,

I hope everybody is doing well...

I have a lil question for all of you. I am getting really happy about the way I look. I am really happy about all the efforts I made to get there. My legs, arms and breasts are doing just fine because I feel it is easy to target these areas and to actually feel that it is working.... BUT!!!! I am getting really frustrated about my stomach!! Does anybody else feel that way?? Did anybody have a stomach and lost it gradually and want to share their secrets? Can anybody relate?

I want to get rid of that stomach of mine and I am not exactly sure how to do it so it really works. Any ideas? I do not want that skin to get looser and looser...

I do cardio every day for more than 1 hour and I do some weight lifting 3 days a week. Should I introduce more wonderful ab workout in my routine?

Thanks a lot!

Sacha

I haven't encountered this one just yet, but if you're weight lifting isn't targeting your core, then you should definately start an ab routine. I've heard a lot of people talk about successes from core yoga or core pilates - the ab routine, plus a bit more form. Maybe it would make targeting those areas more fun?!?!

more fun uh??? hmmm...we will see!!! *giggle*

Sacha the ab workout hater!

Yeah, trust me, I see the irony in that.

ONE WORD: PILATES
I promise, you will feel soooo much better about your midsection if you start doing a good pilates workout. Gaiam videos (my favorite) are very good but I hear great things about Windsor Pilates.

Two things will help your stomach: continuing to lose fat and doing ab exercises to firm the muscles in that area.

I was taking Pilates classes once a week for a while, I think it did help the way my stomach appeared by improving my posture and training me to keep my stomach muscles pulled in.

Right now, I just do a variety of lower back and ab exercises as part of my strength routine. I like using a stability ball to do crunches and back extensions. I also like to do hanging leg raises (my gym has this thing you stand in that it like the arms and back of a chair to support your upper body while you lift your legs).

It's really hard for some people to get a totally flat stomach. I've given up on ever having a completely flat stomach, I have flat upper abs but I still have a tiny belly that won't go away. It's not enough to change the way that I wear clothes or even the size of clothes that I wear, but I think you have to get to a pretty lean body fat % to have see a lot of definition in that area. My brother told me that men need to have something below 8 or 10% body fat to be able to see the ab muscles enough for a six pack. I don't know how it works for women, but I'm okay with not getting to that level of definition.

Katia and Banana --- I did buy pilates for dummies a while ago...Haven't done a lot of it though! I think I should start again. I am not asking for a flat tummy or anything but I just do not want excess skin there.

Sheeesh...Jenrica, you were right...I will have to make the ab workout FUN....!!!! Wanna join in? Anybody??????? Come on!


Thanks for your help girls!!!

Sacha

Sacha, I'm kind of in the same boat you are. I've been gaining muscle all over everywhere else with my weight training, but I've neglected my abs. Today I start doing my 8 minute abs DVD again. (It's been a really long time since I've done it.) From prior experience, there are many good programs out there, the only thing that matters is actually sticking with one of them and doing it! Let's keep eachother acountable for doing our ab routines.

You know, I've never done pilates - I've heard it's kind of like yoga, but more "concentrated" - meaning harder! You'll have to tell me how you like it... I'm no where near seeing any ab muscles though!

Deeloser----Let's do that...Maybe we will motivate each other!

Sacha

I have the Pilates for Dummies dvd. I did that 2-3 times a week and I noticed a definate improvement. The key is consistancy. It isn't too hard, and it is only a few times a week. I do treadmill for cardio M, W, F,Sa and Pilates for strength and sometimes do some weights on Tu, Thurs. and Sun. is my off day. If you stick to it I would give it a few months and then evaluate if you are pleased with the results to see if the effort is working. I think that you would be pleased..