What sort of exercises?

MonicaBing

Hey all, am biting the bullet posting this, but im hopeful someone can advise me?

Ok, am 33 going on 34 in age but am 25 at heart! Have 2 kids 14 & 11, smoke a pack a day, but as of monday week coming will be off them as im starting Champix to help quit. I'm 5"6 and weigh 9stone 2Ib approx. Im generally fit, walk everywhere (dont drive), and am a bit of a cleaning freak, so since im redundant at the moment, its all i seem to do, (clean that is!).

Im used to being very happy with my figure but in the last month not so much.
Ive noticed my tummy is sagging more than what im used to and its really, really starting to bother me. Some of my jeans are uncomfortable to wear, aagh, I had surgery 3 years ago, and i was left with a vertical scar just above my pubic bone and i was told i would find it hard to tone up my tummy due to the type of incision, it should have been Horizontal as it wouldn't have cut through muscle?

So folks my question is, can you reccomend any exercises i can do at home, to try and tone my tummy up more? I do try the one where you pull in your tummy to your lower back and hold it, you can do it sitting walking etc, but can u recommend anything else?

My diet is ok, fruit and veg galore when i think to eat, but bread, oh glorious bread is my downfall, as i forget to eat sometimes and end up snacking on toasties or sandwiches..? Any advice would be much appreciated..:)

ronbyrne2005

you need to maintain lower calorie intake to maintain trim abs/core and eat complex carbs rather than simple carbs like white bread/pasta etc. Do core exercises regularly to strengten the core(google core exercises). is your prob a flabby belly or excess skin in the area? Flab can be trained away but excess skin from pregnancy etc would need surgery.

MonicaBing

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

you need to maintain lower calorie intake to maintain trim abs/core and eat complex carbs rather than simple carbs like white bread/pasta etc. Do core exercises regularly to strengten the core(google core exercises). is your prob a flabby belly or excess skin in the area? Flab can be trained away but excess skin from pregnancy etc would need surgery.

Hi Ron, thanks for replying, thankfully its just a flabby tum and not loose skin.
I googled the exercises as you advised and have taken a liking to the Plank? And can u tell me what food's would be complex carbs? thanks:)

EileenG

Aim for fresh whole foods. Eggs, fish, meat, lots and lots and lots of green vegetables, some fruit (but a lot more veg), some nuts, some wholegrains (porridge and barley, not bread with a sprinkle of brown colour). No sugar, cake, ready meals (all full of processed junk), as little white carbs as possible (bread, rice, pasta, anything with flour).

They don't sound like tummy exercises, but squats, deadlifts, lunges and press-ups will work your tummy muscles as well as lots of others.

Bicycle crunch (left elbow to right knee....) shows up on studies as working lots of tummy muscles hard.

MonicaBing

EileenG wrote: »

Aim for fresh whole foods. Eggs, fish, meat, lots and lots and lots of green vegetables, some fruit (but a lot more veg), some nuts, some wholegrains (porridge and barley, not bread with a sprinkle of brown colour). No sugar, cake, ready meals (all full of processed junk), as little white carbs as possible (bread, rice, pasta, anything with flour).

They don't sound like tummy exercises, but squats, deadlifts, lunges and press-ups will work your tummy muscles as well as lots of others.

Bicycle crunch (left elbow to right knee....) shows up on studies as working lots of tummy muscles hard.

Hey Eileen, thanks Girl! The plank is where you stretch out and lay on your elbows, with your legs up on your toes, and you lift your middle body up and hold for 10 whilst aiming your belly button towards the small of your back? Does that not sound right to you? I was shaking after doing 3 sets of ten!

EileenG

Yes. I hate it too. If you find it really difficult, you can start on your knees, but make sure you keep a proper straight line along your spine and bum. Then work up to doing it on your toes.

Side bridge is similar, except you start on your side, with your weight on your elbow/forearm, then lift hips in the air and hold in a straight line. Works your obliques as well.