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Do abdominal routines make......

treadhead Posts: 22 Joined: 2004/03/02	2004/03/04, 03:12 PM for a bigger waist? I hear no end of opinions on this. My training tells me no but my experience tells me yes. Everytime I've been involved in a weight training program that lasted more than 10 months or so my waist got bigger - usually by 2 inches. I started (oh, and I'm 6'0 tall) at 29 inches in 1988, went to 30 in 1991, 32 in 93, then 34 in 98. I wouldn't have minded so much if the growth had been accompanied by more definition - but it wasn't. It looked like the same old stomach - except bigger. Even today, the top two beers in my six pack (which is visible when I tighten my abs) stick out almost as far as my pecs. Which is not good since my pecs have always been my most stubborn muscle group in gaining mass. This equaling out of my pecs with my abs, coupled with the appearance of love handles (now that I'm 44) has me looking far less fit than I'd like. So, does this sound familiar to anyone? Do I lay off the ab work or do I just do it in moderation?
konary Posts: 98 Joined: 2004/02/10	2004/03/05, 01:55 AM The Ab routine will grow your ab muscles which means your waist will get bigger. I think your best bet is to do cardio workout a few time a week. If you do some cardio you will lose the fat that's surrounding your ab muscles and result in smaller waist. Fat is stored both under and over your muscle and the one under your muscle is dangerous for your health. Cardio gets more important as you get older.:love:
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/05, 06:39 AM That question has been discussed here frequently with no real definitive solution put forth. I kind of get the same results as you and lacking any clear answer, I tend to agree with konary (fat under the muscle). Also sounds like you might need to work on your lower abs and obliques to bring them out. These areas are pretty stubborn and hard to work (isolate). You have to work your abs for definition. On the other hand the abs are muscles and if you work them they will grow. I wish I knew the answer and I will be watching this post to see the responses.
Hellscream Posts: 272 Joined: 2004/02/25	2004/03/05, 11:19 AM ya, I havent been around these boards that long but it seems to be one of the most asked questions. Cardio & diet seems to be the answer. And Abs exercises
treadhead Posts: 22 Joined: 2004/03/02	2004/03/05, 03:42 PM Diet is going to be a real challenge. Seems the world is overrun with carbs and sugar. I can't seem to escape them. I eat lots of breakfast cereal at night and usually have a V-8, a sandwich, and a couple servings of melon and celery during the day. I think I end up eating the cereal (dead of night since I usually wake up 3-5 times) so much cause I don't eat much during the day. It's not that I don't want to it just seems like everything in front of me, while delicious, isn't healthy. So I go w/out. WHat I need is a hearty, on the go kind of snack. SOmething I can not only munch on at night but take with me to the office.
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/03/05, 03:54 PM basicly put, if your building your stomach muscles up, and not getting rid of fat your wist will get bigger. If you have 2 in of fat on your stomach, and you add 1 in of mucle under the fat.....where the fat gonna go? Since you can't spot reduce its gonna push the fat out! Abb are built in the kitchen......... most peopel can't see a defined six pack or 8 pack whatever till the body fat reaches around 10% at the most idealy for most it will be 8 %. Diet and loss of body fat wil make a 6 pack shine, you can do situps till yoru blue in the face, but unless you say bye bye to body fat, its gonna be harder and more muscler, but not a 6 pack. -------------- .......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! ......minds are not vessles to be filled, but fires to be enlightened ......Confucious once said ,DO NOT play leap frog with a unicorn
konary Posts: 98 Joined: 2004/02/10	2004/03/05, 08:10 PM bigandrew, would that 10% apply to female body also? Just curious since female bf% seems always higher than male.
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/03/05, 08:16 PM hmm not realy sure lol.......most girls don't store fat in the tumy, its usualy on the sides or leg area...........i'd say for a girl maybe 14% just a guess though don't hold me to it. I have read although don't hold me to it, a girls body fat should never get lower than 10 cause you can lose your mensterial cycle or somthing like that. For long terms that is -------------- .......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! ......minds are not vessles to be filled, but fires to be enlightened ......Confucious once said ,DO NOT play leap frog with a unicorn
konary Posts: 98 Joined: 2004/02/10	2004/03/07, 01:29 AM Andrew :) I am not worried about reaching 10%bf or under. LOL. I am currently 24%, I just hope to get it into teen's (18% being my current goal). I kind of think a thin layer of fat is attractive for women by making softer body lines. Thank you for the reply. :love:
Reddy Posts: 597 Joined: 2003/09/11	2004/03/08, 01:06 PM 18% sounds like a great goal - since that is mine too I have to work on my diet more - that seems to be the thing that is keeping mine up -------------- Reddy All people smile in the same language
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2004/03/08, 01:12 PM Konary, I see you are 26 yrs. old. A rating for women your age goes like this... Excellent....11-16 Good....16-19 Average....20-28 Fair.....29-31 Poor....31+ ============ Quoting from konary: bigandrew, would that 10% apply to female body also? Just curious since female bf% seems always higher than male. ============= -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
dgjesu3 Posts: 104 Joined: 2006/11/13	2007/02/12, 12:28 AM Konary, every female reacts differently to their bodyfat %. Some females will have menstrual irregularities even at 16-18%, others can go down to 12% and be perfectly fine.
	2007/02/12, 11:17 AM Dude - do you think she is still around? This post is 3 years old. -------------- Courage is resistance to fear; mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Mark Twain
dgjesu3 Posts: 104 Joined: 2006/11/13	2007/02/13, 06:47 PM It was a homework assignment guys...