2 Questions - ab exercises and night time snacks

Idioteque

Hi all,

Any help on the below greatly appreciated..

Firstly, I got the 8 min ab video from a link on here bout a year ago. At the time I was doin a fair bit of exercise and it seemed to be working alright - Although, if this is possible, One of the top left abs looked a little bigger than the right(which makes me think I was somehow inadvertently putting less effort into one side of the exercises). Getting back into shape and good cardio level at moment and so was wondering if the 8 min ab video is still a good home ab workout, or have there been any good suggestions since? Again, something I can do at home with an exercise mat is preferable.Also I'm aware you need to loose overall body fat to see the abs etc.

Secondly - On the advise of some of the stickies, I'm trying to eact smaller portioned meals but more regularly. I'm finding however, that after dinner at say 6-7pm I'm feeling pretty hungry again round 9pm. Should I just chow down on a few nuts and make my body wait it out till breakie or is it ok to go for something like bruschetta with tomato, basil etc .Also, Given that I'm trying to loose a little body fat is the above (bruschetta) a bad idea with regard to cal in vs cal out etc.

Thanks in advance

Ph3n0m

If you do feel hungry at 9 - handful of nuts, or even a small tin of tuna should see you right

Colm_OReilly

As for ab exercises, remember the function of your abs is to stabilise your core, i.e. keep your spine in alignment.

Overhead lifting or OHS will work this. For some ab-centric exercises try holding an L-sit, doing L-Pull ups (real killer for me), or knees to elbows (i.e. hanging from a pull up bar and bring your knees to your elbows.

If you could hold an L-sit for 3 minutes crunches will seem like nothing.

As for late eating, a bit of dried fruit/nuts should satisfy you. Be healthier than the Bruscetta too.

Col

Idioteque

great stuff thanks for the advice....

rubadub

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

or knees to elbows (i.e. hanging from a pull up bar and bring your knees to your elbows.

When I do chinups I sometimes bring my legs up at the same time, even more of a compound movement, and efficient time wise.

OP- Why are you only focusing on abs? Doing weighted squats will work your abs well, and a lot more, and it will promote a lot more muscle growth than ab work alone. Also it will boost your metabolism a lot and help loose body fat a lot more. Do a full body workout would be better again.

You mentioned a mat, so I am presuming you have no weights. I would get some pushups in it that is the case, and bodyweight squats. Doing inclined pushups, e.g. legs on the stairs and hands on the floor is much harder than standard pushups, and will promote more muscle growth and hence more fat loss. Also those pushups do work the abs well too.

You should be doing 8-12 reps for max muscle growth. You can alter angle and hand positions on pushups to work your muscles more.

When you can do 20 of these you are good

Idioteque

Thanks Rudadub (and all)for the info...

Will defo try the weighted squats after I get to physio. I do have weights - 2 dumbbells and long bar with combined adjustable weight of bout 30KG.
Should I invest in a bench (just thinking of room getting more and more cramped) or are there enough exercises I can do without? Think I'll invest in a chin up bar though as have seen a lot of people on here mention using one.

Thanks