Exercise question...crunches...

[glo]

Ok, guys...what do you think? I do nautilus machines everyother day. 45 minutes 11 machines 12 repetions per machine, twice. Then I swim about 3 times a week and walk 2 miles at 4 mph (30 minutes) atleast 4 times a week. I will do a bike maybe 5 minutes twice a week, and sqeeze in a treadmill walk every now and then...BUT!!!!


I stil have a flabby tummy. Now I know all the stuff about not doing the same muscles everyday, but I do not think the nautilus machine does my abs enough. I was doing crunches daily before and was upto 300 a day...What do you think? Should I go back to daily crunches? DO you think this would hurt?

 

[TigH]

I read in Muscle and Fitness (before the women's version of their magazine came out) that it's perfectly acceptable to work abs every day (although the other muscle groups need a rest). This was included in an article about a woman athlete/fitness competitor who had GREAT abs! Mandy Blank. I'd put a link to her site in here, but some of the pictures wouldn't make the G rating! I think you would be safe to add those crunches back in if you want! 300 though WOW!!!!

 

[glo]

TIGH....THis is what I do....I do 50 regular crunches..Then I take my knees put them to the side and do the 50 on each side of the side ones....Then I do 50 of the crunches where you alternate elbows to knees...THen I do 50 of the ones where you do them backwards by putting your legs up in the air and moving your leg towards your chest.....lastly I do 50 more regular crunches holding the crunch at the top for 5 secs....

I also add some leg work, but that is not crunches, but do work abs and obliques....

 

[wovenwonder]

You are so determined Glo -- and that is why you've been so succesful! Great Job!
The most excersize I've gotten this month is chewing all this meat -- LOL. That HAS to burn some calories, right? Seriously though -- I know this is my downfall and I have to work on it. (excersize)

 

[tlgoblue]

Glo,
I know this sounds like s stupid question, but what do you mean by flabby? I mean, maybe it is just some extra skin hanging around. You have done so well and lost a fair amount of weight in a relatively short time, that it may take some time for your skin to tone up. I would certainly keep up the crunches! You know how that goes. Abs are the first to go when they arent being used! And, what's worse is they seem to be the most diffficlult to get going again. Keep up the crunches and you'll get there. (don't you remember when doing 4 sets was murder!?!? Don't let that happen again. )

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[glo]

Hey Tracy...believe me..I remember not being able to do2 crunches period..... my journey and 72 pound loss has taken me about 2 years...2 years at the end of July to be exact. I know that some of this is not going to go away without surgery...Having had three kids, and only 2 pregnancies (yeah twins) and weighing over 200 pounds being ONLY 5 ft tall stetched my skin to no repair. It really looks very bad, and I have one inch stretch marks in places Some though is fat...I have those nasty love handles that sit on your hips...lol and it really goes all the way around. MY DH calls it my bike tire....used to be a Mack truck tire...HA HA HA isn't he funny

I hope it gets better with exercise and Vitamin E which I have been using, but I dunno.....


Oh, and by the way...there are NO stupid questions here...Not ever THat was said in my best elementary teacher voice

 

[KathyFP]

Glo,

What a workout. I get tired just reading about your routine.

Good question. I just started my journey on Monday (healthy eating) and Tuesday (exercise - after a 10 year hiatus). I am walking. I was thinking about my abs and wondering about doing crunches.

I don't have a lot of time to exercise. IWalking is taking up any little bit of time I have. (I work full time about 60 hrs a week, and two PT consulting jobs)

But boy my abs need soooo much work.

Glo - you really are an inspiration. If I have half of the success that you have I will be happy.

 

[tlgoblue]

Glo,
Thanks for the smile! I'm having a pretty gloomy day today, and I'm so glad you are sounding upbeat. That really helps me. Now I'm going to get a handle on my Gloom!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[TigH]

Originally posted by glo
THen I do 50 of the ones where you do them backwards by putting your legs up in the air and moving your leg towards your chest

Ow, my tummy hurts! GLO!!!! This one (above) sounds really similar to one we do for Pilates. Lie on your back, stick your legs up in the air (toes pointed), then gently lower them away from you (forward) to a 45 degree angle and then slowly pull them back up straight. And we do that ONCE in the tape and it's only 6-8 reps. How in the WORLD you do all those other crunches is beyond me! You are amazing!!!!

 

[TigH]

Originally posted by glo
MY DH calls it my bike tire....used to be a Mack truck tire...HA HA HA isn't he funny

Ok, you gotta take up kickboxing!!!! ha ha! Then I bet he'll keep his comments to himself!

 

[glo]

rotflmao.....thanks I needed that...


tlgoblue my friend...no blues for you. You have been a sweetie to me. PM me if you need to talk....or even if you don't. Sending you BIG HUGS!!!!

 

[perfectmatch300]

I'm exhaused just doing 50 of ANY kind of crunches!
And I've had to build up to that! I'm still doing the very simple basic ones. I have been working on some that I could do in my chair at work without being too noisy or otherwise noticable!
I'm thinking as I type this post - If I spent HALF the time exercising as I do DISing, I'd be in incredible shape!

 

[believe]

Glo....I know for me I will never see a flat tummy unless I become a weight builder or a miracle drug comes out. I do 100 crunches every morning, some are for the love handles and some are regular....usually 5 different positions. I also do a 15 minute abs class at the gym, I couldn't even tell you how many we do...but it is a lot and 2 of the days is with the exercise ball part of the time. I have been doing this class since January, the 100 abs in the morning for a year...and I am still working at it. If you find something that works, please let me know because in my journey...on and off the last 10yrs I have not found it.

 

[lmhall2000]

I have a hard time adding anything to what you're already doing- YOU'RE DOING GREAT!!! I can only share some things that worked for me- I've got to post my picture of when I lost 90 pounds through walking- I had a little waist and slender hips- walking is ALL I did. Alex has challenged me to bump up my walking from 2-3 miles and that extra mile really makes a difference- I've lost more inches from my waist than any region of my body. I'm going to shoot for 4 miles one day a week- that's about an hour and 5 minute walk for me. Your speed is perfect I would just try to increase your walking by one mile- and find some hills- you use more abs climbing steep hills. But I walked everyday when I lost this weight- on weekends maybe just 2-3 miles but on the weekdays I walked up to 6-8 miles scattered throughout the day. It was a mile from my dorm to my classes and I had 5 classes spread out ( never could get mine in a row) so I'd walk to and from my dorm 5 times a day- not to mention food runs, bank runs, errands. I'm just a huge fan of walking lots and fast- but you're doing so much already! Let us know how it goes- I'll be sending wishes to remove that tire!!! And hubby needs to be slapped with wet noodles!
Tara

Oops got to add.... last night I made my children a pizza for dinner. I had already had my meal for the day that morning at breakfast- well I had missed my afternoon snack of an apple and just wanted one 2 inch square of the pizza. It's one of those tombstones so not much fat in the dough and little toppings, but as I was about to put it in my mouth- my dh gave me this look like "What are you doing??????" Almost like a scolding mother- granted I am starting TOM and I did not like the look he gave- It made me miserable the rest of the night. Sometimes our husband's mix up being supportive with being downright jerky! Then he proceeds to eat chocolate oreo's for dinner- GAG!!!
Thought that might cheer you up!

 

[glo]

lmhall2000 I needed that thismorning..thnk you...atleast mine isn't the only jerky one