4 Pack

roadhog

Been in a gym since Feb 03. Am happy with how its been working but I now have a problem others, I'm sure, have had. The stomach muscles have tightened up pushing the smallish belly I had previously up a bit higher, above that the first 4 lines of muscles have begun to appear. I not bothered about getting a six pack figure, but any suggestions on excercises to do to reduce the slight swelling of a belly which has only just been moved up and not eliminated?

fyo I swim 1000mtrs twice a week, and do two gym sessions, one light 40 min session with weights and another 80min with weights and machines (treadmill, bike, climber etc)

tunney

any suggestions on excercises to do to reduce the slight swelling of a belly which has only just been moved up and not eliminated?

Eat less?
I run 50 miles a week, cycle 100 miles, train for gaa and do a martial art. I eat like a pig(although stopped a week or so ago) and still have a belly. Gotta cut down on intake if ya want to lose fat!

roadhog

That had crossed my mind, but I only eat regular food ie very little in the way of sweets, cake, biscuits, crisps, actually if I think about it I would have maybe 3 to 4 bars (eg moro or mars) a week, and that's in work after being in the pool / gym that morning.

Unfortunately the staff in the gym are pretty usless, i have read on some sites that using ab excisers will cause this problem, but I only do 100 a week on it. As mentioned I'm not bothered about a 6 pack but like most blokes want rid of the extension most of us have around the waist.

Guess I'll just have to wire up my jaws and try burning off fat quicker

tomED

Generally losing fat will reduce this - but sometimes if you spend too much time developing your abs you get a kind of rounded stomach because you arent working the inner abs (if thats what they are called!)

Basically I was shown an exercise to recuce the roundness i developed - get on all fours and pull your stomach towards your spine (if that makes sense) hold it for 30 seconds and release, thats one set, do 2 or 3.

Also make sure that you are evenly ditributing your exercises to the different stomach muscles - upper abs, lower abs and obliques.

Its worked well for me, however, once i start puttin on any bit of weight, the first palce that suffers is that area, so fat reduction is key IMO.

roadhog

I had heard of that problem if you over train on the abs, but I only work on them twice a week, and that's only to add variety to my circuits. I think ye are both right about burning more fat, I'll have to up the workrate in the pool, but will also try the Beyonce style moves you've mentioned:D