Problem with Lower abs

smuckers

seems I don't seem to be working them enough, my ab exercises vary, I do plenty of leg raises. the upper abs are becoming more and more defined, which is something I guess.

Eating healthily, too any suggestions?

abbs07

straight kick outs shud do the trick

smuckers

Sorry abbs could you expain these?

cowzerp

Ab training will not give you these lower abs your looking for. losing a few % body fat will-more body fat is stored in the lower part of your stomach making people focus on lower abs exercises-the abdominals are all 1 muscle and work all or nothing-use the abs and you will contract upper and lower portions(any ab exercise) just pick intense 1's.. and sort the diet out.

davyjose

cowzerp wrote:

Ab training will not give you these lower abs your looking for. losing a few % body fat will-more body fat is stored in the lower part of your stoamach making people focus on lower abs exercises-the abdominals are all 1 muscl and work all or nothing-use the abs and you will contract upper and lower portions(any ab exercise) just pick intense 1's.. and sort the diet out.

This should be made the ultimate sticky

crotalus667

davyjose wrote:

This should be made the ultimate sticky

Im a relative newbie and even I know that

kevpants

Look I'm sorry but this 6 pack obsession people have is not healthy. Every post here regarding "how to get a 6 pack" should be automatically forwarded to a "how to pick up girls" forum.

Having a 6 pack is not a sign of health or strength it's a sign of very low body fat which probably isn't all that healthy or indeed maintainable. Most people with this kind of stomach are either naturally really skinny, bodybuilders who have just finished "cutting" for competition or professional athletes or sportsmen who are at their peak fitness level which would then go south during the off season.

Gavin "shels"

Crunches should do the trick, as long as you do they properly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunch_(exercise)

There is also a few good exercises here http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.php?MainMuscle=Abdominals

smuckers

Thanks Gavin, they look pretty useful.

AlphaMale 3OO

kevpants wrote:

Look I'm sorry but this 6 pack obsession people have is not healthy. Every post here regarding "how to get a 6 pack" should be automatically forwarded to a "how to pick up girls" forum.

Having a 6 pack is not a sign of health or strength it's a sign of very low body fat which probably isn't all that healthy or indeed maintainable. Most people with this kind of stomach are either naturally really skinny, bodybuilders who have just finished "cutting" for competition or professional athletes or sportsmen who are at their peak fitness level which would then go south during the off season.

wrong, wrong and wrong again.

Smidul

kevpants wrote:

Look I'm sorry but this 6 pack obsession people have is not healthy. Every post here regarding "how to get a 6 pack" should be automatically forwarded to a "how to pick up girls" forum.

Having a 6 pack is not a sign of health or strength it's a sign of very low body fat which probably isn't all that healthy or indeed maintainable. Most people with this kind of stomach are either naturally really skinny, bodybuilders who have just finished "cutting" for competition or professional athletes or sportsmen who are at their peak fitness level which would then go south during the off season.

My 6 pac is clear all the time... i dont pick up girls!

davyjose

kevpants wrote:

Look I'm sorry but this 6 pack obsession people have is not healthy.

kevpants wrote:

Most people with this kind of stomach are ... sportsmen who are at their peak fitness level.

Could you please point out how these two statements aren't completely contradictory, please? Thank you.

Gavin "shels"

smuckers wrote:

Thanks Gavin, they look pretty useful.

Best way I think to do one is, lie on the floor with if possible your head under your bed, hold your hands onto the edge of the underneath of your bed and lift your knees right up to your bed.

Sounds a bit mad but thats what I do and I have strong abs.

kevpants

davyjose wrote:

Could you please point out how these two statements aren't completely contradictory, please? Thank you.

Because people spend sooooo much time trying to get a 6 pack they neglect other parts of their body is what I mean. Squats and deadlifts etc are better for your abdominal region than crunches which simply improve the exterior ab muscles.

What I meant by sportsmen at their peak is that their body fat is at its lowest which would vary between on and off season. anyone can have a 6 pack if theu lose truckloads of fat, crunches or not. If your bodyfat is over a certain % crunch away cos you're doing nothing.

By the way statements like "Wrong wrong wrong wrong" really add to healthy debate. Please back up your statements with SOME kind of reasoning.

g'em

davyjose wrote:

Could you please point out how these two statements aren't completely contradictory, please? Thank you.

I can kind of see where kevpants is coming from here, I think he was more suggesting that the obsession with six-packs in itself is unhealthy, not the acquisition of one!

But kevpants, it's a fitness board, and a 6-pack is, to many people, the ultimate sign of fitness. And if that's what they want, meh, so be it. Most people (hopefully) will also quickly learn that as you've said heavy compound lifts are the best way to go about strengthening the abdominal muscles (or the core to use that much-bandied around phrase). But pointing them in the right direction will probably be better received than telling them that what they want to achieve is unhealthy or a silly idea. Trust me, it irks me no end too when I see people doing 17,000 gazillion crunches in the gym and then maybe some curls in the squat rack to 'pump the guns' but these same people (again, hopefully!! maybe I'm putting too much faith in human intelligence...) will realise sooner or later that those tactics aren't working and try to figure out why.

God knows my core didn't get strong doing crunches, it happened from lifting lots of heavy stuff. You might have to say it a few thousand times but eventually people will listen

nesf

forbesii wrote:

wrong, wrong and wrong again.

He kind of has a point, having a six pack in and of itself is just a sign of having a low body fat. This could either be because you are very fit or very unhealthy to be fair. Someone could want the six pack but not give a **** about their health etc.

Transform

Having a low body fat and 6 pack is totally maintainable and yes i agree deadlifts and squats (esp front squats) are better ab builders than all other exercises.

Would love to get all the people that spend 15-30mins frantically working their abs to put the same amount of time into squatting or other similar weights exercises.

kevpants

Sorry I probably came off a bit preachy!!!

I could have been far less controversial and said that 90% of having a 6 pack is about body fat so if that really is your goal you should concentrate on diet and cardio coupled with moderate ab work.

Hopefully though if you really get into fitness as a lifestyle you'll adapt your workout and you'll feel better for it! Sorry I couldn't resist a little preach!

AlphaMale 3OO

I should probably explain the wrong wrong wrong thing. Kevpants initial comment was ludicrous, but he's somewhat redeemed himself. I have a 6 pack and I am not unhealthy. Very often excess abdominal fat has a positive correlation with heart disease, so less of a spare tyre is definately healthier. If your around 15% body fat your into the supposed safe range though anything above this is not necesarily dangerous. At 15% you should be seeing your pack starting to poke through and that is certainly not unhealthy. I just think you original post was almost 100% incorrect but I was too lazy to write why.

nesf

forbesii wrote:

I just think you original post was almost 100% incorrect but I was too lazy to write why.

I think he had a point about the obsession being unhealthy though. Some people truly are obsessed with it but they are a long way, mentally and physically, from having a six pack. It could encourage people onto fad diets while doing 100 sit ups a day and so on.


I don't think he meant to criticise people who have them rather people misguidedly focusing on them. I just think he worded his original post badly.

AlphaMale 3OO

nesf wrote:

I think he had a point about the obsession being unhealthy though. Some people truly are obsessed with it but they are a long way, mentally and physically, from having a six pack. It could encourage people onto fad diets while doing 100 sit ups a day and so on.


I don't think he meant to criticise people who have them rather people misguidedly focusing on them. I just think he worded his original post badly.

I agree with you. People should concentrate on all the elements of fitness. This includes crunches etc. but the six pack (I hate the phrase) should be looked at as a positive byproduct of healthy living not an end in itself. Anyway, theres nothing worse in the gym than a guy who has quite obviously concentrated on just one body part, i.e. huge biceps, tiny everything else, or miniscule chicken legs and big upper body.