Strong upper abs, crappy lower ones

I like to work out my abs, but ive found that when i get toned its only in the upper ab area. Why is that? I carry weight in the lower, too.

Im decreasing my calorie in take to lose weight but whats another good way to work LOWER abs? Cant stand the way they look....

Wed. Jun 27, 7:41pm

One of the best ways to get a very ripped set of lower abs is to have terrific posture - all the time. Cough. Feel that? Place your fingers on your lower abs if you didn't. Those are the muscles you want to keep tight. Now cough again and this time don't let them relax. Stay that way. Sitting, standing, walking, working out, etc - make sure these muscles are engaged the whole time and you will really feel them working. Pretty soon you won't have to think about it and there will be little effort in maintaining this.

Additionally keep your shoulders back and down - almost as if you were trying to squeeze something between them. Now your body is in proper alignment. Maintain this and soon you'll discover what a great thing this does for your balance, form in almost any exercise, and strength (it's pretty good for your lower back too). If you work in an office and hunch over your computer this might actually be harder than holding your ab muscles tight.

If you want to bump it up - consider pilates. It's excellent for working your core and giving you good posture (which makes you look thinner). I learned all of the above from a physical therapist when I had back issues. Simply doing my daily activities with my abs contracted has given them lovely definition. I don't have a 6-pack, but they are looking quite nice if I do say so (and the husband certainly does, but he's biased). And of course - they could be beautifully defined, but if your body choses to store fat there you won't see them til it's gone - alas!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 8:42 PM

I second the suggestion about Pilates, especially Winsor Pilates. I've had that lower belly pooch all my life until I went on a healthy diet while doing Winsor Pilates for the abs almost every day. Now the pooch is only slightly there when I sit down.

Friday, June 29, 2007, 12:02 AM

LOWER STOMACH IS AN ENEMY OF THE MASSES!!!(?)

HEY! IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU.
I KNOW JUST WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE SAME HERE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME THE SOLUTION A LITTLE BEFORE I AM TELLING YOU. THIS REALLY HELPS! BELIEVE ME!

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT AT THE EDGE OF A VERY STURDY CHAIR, HOLD THE BACK WITH YOUR HANDS, AND LIFT YOUR LEGS ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN DOWN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FLOOR, REPEATEDLY. MAKE SURE YOUR LEGS ARE TOGETHER AND YOUR TOES ARE POINTING STRAIGHT.

YOU SHOULD REALLY TRY THIS. I MEAN, IT'S NOT MAGIC OR ANYTHING, BUT I THINK IT WORKS. MY LOWER BELLY HAS GONE PRETTY DOWN SINCE I STARTED IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE TRICK TO THIS IS NOT TO STOP EVEN WHEN OT BURNS. GO FOR AT LEAST THREE SETS OF TWENTY AT LEAST ONCE A DAY.

IF YOU DO TRY IT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE RESULTS!! IF IT WORKED OR EVEN IF IT DIDN'T. I HOPE IT DOES, THOUGH...

Friday, June 29, 2007, 12:34 AM

Just so you know, lower ab exercises are great just make sure you are doing them right and do NOT do leg raises. They are the ones where you lay flat on your back on the ground and lift your heels a few inches up and hold it. This move is very bad for the upper back and can cause pain in the spine. My chiropractor freaked when I told him I was doing this move. No one has ever warned me about that before and when I was a competative swimmer my coach made me do those daily!

Friday, June 29, 2007, 1:55 AM

INTERESTING

Tuesday, July 03, 2007, 11:25 PM

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