NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok so im 16 years old i have lost 3 stone of weight over teh last year (now 12 stone), and well im looking at toning certain parts of my body, stomach especially, teh weight has come off everywhere else but my stomach sticks out. Any ways to help like strenghen my stomach muscles and make it less bulgy?? My arms are well toned now, and my legs i can live with, i just detest my stomach, please help.

Strengthening your stomach muscles will not help. All you'll have is a six pack hidden away underneath the paunch. Sorry, if only it was that easy:(

PS. good job on what you've lost already though:cool:

OK I'm guessing short tonne isn't being abbreviated to ston(n)e in this context: 3 short ton = 2,721.554 22 kilogram

On further investigation: 3 stone = 19kg

Oh, and I don't have any advice, other than sit-ups they seem to work pretty well for me.

any other advice other than situps, cause well they get boring and im sure they dont exercise all my muscles down there. (as in the stomach area... dirty people)

Ok so im 16 years old i have lost 3 stone of weight over teh last year (now 12 stone), and well im looking at toning certain parts of my body, stomach especially, teh weight has come off everywhere else but my stomach sticks out. Any ways to help like strenghen my stomach muscles and make it less bulgy?? My arms are well toned now, and my legs i can live with, i just detest my stomach, please help.
Stop eating pasta and bread and almost everything with sugar in it; eat lots of protien instead. Do "crunches" ... lots of them! If those don't do the trick, see a doctor about liposuction.

Ok so im 16 years old i have lost 3 stone of weight over teh last year (now 12 stone), and well im looking at toning certain parts of my body, stomach especially, teh weight has come off everywhere else but my stomach sticks out. Any ways to help like strenghen my stomach muscles and make it less bulgy?? My arms are well toned now, and my legs i can live with, i just detest my stomach, please help.

No, no, no, do Pilates. It's specifically designed to work on your stomach and butt, and redistribute weight so nothing sticks out. Taking an introductory class is best so you can get an idea of the principles of the thing before you do it on your own. If you can't find classes in your area, get some tapes on amazon.com. The first one I used was Pilates Weight Loss Workout for Dummies (link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002F6B10/qid=1142175273/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-7805955-8703313?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130) but there's lots of others. Have fun!

No, no, no, do Pilates. It's specifically designed to work on your stomach and butt, and redistribute weight so nothing sticks out. Taking an introductory class is best so you can get an idea of the principles of the thing before you do it on your own. If you can't find classes in your area, get some tapes on amazon.com. The first one I used was Pilates Weight Loss Workout for Dummies (link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002F6B10/qid=1142175273/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-7805955-8703313?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130) but there's lots of others. Have fun!

and/or aerobics. You cant specifically target any area of your body for fat loss, it's physiologically impossible. You can target for muscle tone and build.

Pilates tones the butt and stomach and involves aerobics to burn excess fat from all areas of the body, making it appear to target specific areas.

Stop eating pasta and bread and almost everything with sugar in it; eat lots of protien instead. Do "crunches" ... lots of them! If those don't do the trick, see a doctor about liposuction.

Crunches? :confused:

Crunches? :confused:
If you do them at home, one method is to put your lower legs up over the edge of a couch or chair and scoot your butt as close as possible. Cross your arms over your chest so you won't be tempted to use them to help you lift your upper body. Repeatedly raise and lower your upper body as far toward your knees as possible.

Sufficient explanation, or would you like more?

If you do them at home, one method is to put your lower legs up over the edge of a couch or chair and scoot your butt as close as possible. Cross your arms over your chest so you won't be tempted to use them to help you lift your upper body. Repeatedly raise and lower your upper body as far toward your knees as possible.

Sufficient explanation, or would you like more?
Thanks Eut.

If you do them at home, one method is to put your lower legs up over the edge of a couch or chair and scoot your butt as close as possible. Cross your arms over your chest so you won't be tempted to use them to help you lift your upper body. Repeatedly raise and lower your upper body as far toward your knees as possible.

Sufficient explanation, or would you like more?
Sorry to nitpick, but those would be sit-ups. Crunches are where you only go about halfway to your knees. Both will give you a good workout, but I believe crunches would end up being better for your body later on. But yes, always keep your arms crossed over your chest while doing either.

Another unrelated piece of advice, if you (or anyone) are doing leg presses, you need not bend your legs past 90 degrees. Doing so won't make you any stronger and it'll just ruin your cartilage possibly requiring total knee replacement when you get older.

Another good body-tone workout are pushups, something I should start doing again. Enough of them will make your abs stronger while building up your upperbody pecs. Hope that helps :D

so maybe the sportsmen of you can give me a tip:

I stopped smoking in september 2005 and smoked my first cigarette after that in january 2006
between the two dates i have reached an owerweight for 10 kilos

now i want to lost weight and stop smoking again.
because it snows here the only sport i love (biking) is impossible at the moment.
I don´t like swimming or running...so tell me what should i do?

If you do them at home, one method is to put your lower legs up over the edge of a couch or chair and scoot your butt as close as possible. Cross your arms over your chest so you won't be tempted to use them to help you lift your upper body. Repeatedly raise and lower your upper body as far toward your knees as possible.

Sufficient explanation, or would you like more?

That's fine thanks.:)

so maybe the sportsmen of you can give me a tip:

I stopped smoking in september 2005 and smoked my first cigarette after that in january 2006
between the two dates i have reached an owerweight for 10 kilos

now i want to lost weight and stop smoking again.
because it snows here the only sport i love (biking) is impossible at the moment.
I don´t like swimming or running...so tell me what should i do?
Stationary cycling? And how dare you not like swimming! :D

so maybe the sportsmen of you can give me a tip:

I stopped smoking in september 2005 and smoked my first cigarette after that in january 2006
between the two dates i have reached an owerweight for 10 kilos

now i want to lost weight and stop smoking again.
because it snows here the only sport i love (biking) is impossible at the moment.
I don´t like swimming or running...so tell me what should i do?
Erm guess you dont like doing walking either then, although my walking is climbing really... erm i found walking to be very good, as i said 3 stone in a year. :)

Sorry to nitpick, but those would be sit-ups. Crunches are where you only go about halfway to your knees.
I'm use to the military approach and terminology, obviously. Sit-ups in the military are performed from a supine position, with the knees bent at a 45% angle, feet shoulder-width apart, fingers interlocked behind your head. In the up position, the upper body must reach at least the vertical position; in the down position, the shoulderblades must touch the ground.

The sort of crunches described will make it very unlikely you will ever be able to sit up much further than 1/2 way to your knees.

I'm use to the military approach and terminology, obviously. Sit-ups in the military are performed from a supine position, with the knees bent at a 45% angle, feet shoulder-width apart, fingers interlocked behind your head. In the up position, the upper body must reach at least the vertical position; in the down position, the shoulderblades must touch the ground.

The sort of crunches described will make it very unlikely you will ever be able to sit up much further than 1/2 way to your knees.
You are correct. Interesting nation, by the way. You prior military?

Sit-ups are bad for one´s back. Stick with the crunches, and do something else for the lower stomach. Like laying on your back and writing letters with your legs until you figuratively die. At least thats what I do. When motivated. Assuming I remembered to excercise.

Diet, excercise and positive attitude, the holy trinity of fitness. Knock out fats and sugars, get plenty of protein (meat and fish) and try to limit your carbs - don't cut them out altogether, this is a sure fire way to illness (see the atkins mess...). Cut out soda drinks and beer, drink water and tea.

Excercise wise, go for sit ups for the stomach area, and for general fitness the best way forward is a combination of running and swimming.

Sit-ups are bad for one´s back. Stick with the crunches, and do something else for the lower stomach. Like laying on your back and writing letters with your legs until you figuratively die. At least thats what I do. When motivated. Assuming I remembered to excercise.

Leg lifts are perfect for your lower abs.

Sit-ups are bad for one´s back. Stick with the crunches, and do something else for the lower stomach. Like laying on your back and writing letters with your legs until you figuratively die. At least thats what I do. When motivated. Assuming I remembered to excercise.
Not to mention being bad for the cervical spine if you lock your fingers behind your head. Best to do situps with your hands crossed over your chest, unless you're doing them for a military physical fitness test. Also, if you do a lot of situps at one time, it helps your tailbone to put a mat of some sort underneath.

Strengthening your stomach muscles will not help. All you'll have is a six pack hidden away underneath the paunch. Sorry, if only it was that easy:(

"If you choose to exercise only one part of your body in your entire life, then choose abs."
-A physiotherapist I know

Strong abs will make you look more fit. They sort of bind your gut, and if they're in lousy condition, you don't need to be overweight at all to have you stomach hanging out a bit.

While doing targeted exercise is good, I'd say to keep in mind that a more universal exercise (one that works more than one muscle group at once) is better for overall coordination anything from a sport, to swimming, to martial arts (that's my workout!) is likely to both keep you muscularly balanced and well co-ordinated.

In terms of ab workout, I suggest the following.

A) Crunches
B) Leg Lifts
C) Dead Cockroaches: (lie down, face up, with your legs in the air, bent, and quickly alternate extending one.)
D) I have no idea what the term for them is, but there is an exercise when you extend your legs fully, 90 degrees from your body (while lying down) and rotate to bring them to almost touch the ground on either side. It's nice, because it gets a lot of muscles.
E) Once again, no idea what the name is, but if you hold yourself in pushup position at full extention, with proper form you get a lot of the "core" muscles.

Once again, as great as all these exercises are for tone and such, you cannot target fat loss to a specific area of your body.

Aerobic workouts of any kind and reduction of fat intake will result in the weight loss you desire.

A diet without carbohydrates is not healthy, nor is one devoid of protein. The best diet is one that is varied and in moderation. It's not that you eat carbs, it's how many carbs you eat. Eating 5-6 small meals a day is healthier than eating 3 large meals a day.

As for supplements, I'd be very careful. I've never EVER felt the need to use them, there's nothing they can provide that you cant provide with a little more effort on your part - whether it be by working out more, eating healthier, etc.

Sit-ups are great, but there is more than one way of doing them.

First, don't pull with your hands on your head. Keep them raised, palms flat by your temples. Second, don't raise your chin all the way to your knees. Your back should rise straight at an angle to the floor, but never arch. You're only damaging your back lifting your torso the whole way.

One way is to do sit-ups with your legs in mid-air, folded 90 deg at the knee, as if you're 'sitting' on a chair. Another way is to have your legs folded with feet on the floor. And then there is lying on your back, raising your legs vertically together, and lowering them - that also works on your core body strength. There are other techniques as well, and variety is key as the various exercises work different areas of your abs.

Key thing isn't to stop there, as you wouldn't be achieving much. I do 300 reps in 25-rep sets of various techniques as part of a warm-up for a 30-60 minute run with a 10kg+ pack, and that's a build-up to tougher activities I have planned. An activity such as running, especially with an additional load, gives most of your body a workout and greatly increases your stamina. You will also quickly notice certain improvements in overall efficiency, such as breathlessness becoming less of an impediment and better overall balance.

I'm sure you already use weights, and you should definitely consider doing a range of upper and lower body exercises on alternate days, with a daily run.

And don't eat utter crap, of course. ;)

Oh yeah, regarding the crunches / sit-ups terminology. I wouldn't worry about whose military calls it what, so long as you make regular use of a range of techniques, and execute them correctly without putting your back under unnecessary strain. ;)

Join a wrestling or swim team and you'll be good trust me.
and if you dont like to join teams then i dunno

Stomach stapling. My old GF lost like 80 pounds in a year. Simple, quick, and relatively painless.

Just exercise dude. Everyone who said you can't target fat loss is right. You can tone with targeted excercise but for lasting results just find an aerobic activity you enjoy and will keep doing. For me it's cycling, for some of my friends it's running or swimming. The key is you can't just think of it as something to do until you lose weight, it has to be a lifestyle. You need to find an activity you enjoy so you don't mind doing it. Then you just keep doing it.

And who the fuck uses 'stone' as a measure of weight anymore. Jeez and I thought us Americans were bad with our refusal to stop using pounds and convert to the metric system...