Exercises?

[cybrkitn]

The reason I said to do yoga is that it is a great all body workout and it will help strengthen a lot of your stabalization muscles, it also worked wonders on me I got rid of my back, hand, foot, and knee pains by doing yoga. My yoga teacher would always say you needed to gain your flexibility before you strengthen the muscle aka lengthen before you strengthen.
Also from Yoga I found I was always relaxed and at peace after the workout

The other 6 exercises would target to 6 main muscle groups
I do agree there is really no reason to do leg lifts unless you feel like torturing yourself

Taqwus, I know that you were replying to another poster regarding your reply.

Yoga has exercise techniques that use the "new age" method (centering, mediation, etc). I also recently found out that Pilates branched off of Yoga and also deal with the same or similar methods. That is something that I am very uncomfortable with.

I know you do Yoga, and I'm not saying anything against it for you. It's just not for me for a number of personal reasons. I'm looking for more standard excercises.

No offense intended.

 

[Taqwus]

Taqwus, I know that you were replying to another poster regarding your reply.

Yoga has exercise techniques that use the "new age" method (centering, mediation, etc). I also recently found out that Pilates branched off of Yoga and also deal with the same or similar methods. That is something that I am very uncomfortable with.

I know you do Yoga, and I'm not saying anything against it for you. It's just not for me for a number of personal reasons. I'm looking for more standard excercises.

No offense intended.

Though I do not mean to go out on a tangent like this, but pure yoga really does not have really any religion meaning to it. It wasn't until around the 15th century that there was a religious attachment added to it, which is Hatha Yoga
Actually Yoga predates all known religions, by about 3000 years, which is odd when it is considered new age

 

[cybrkitn]

Though I do not mean to go out on a tangent like this, but pure yoga really does not have really any religion meaning to it. It wasn't until around the 15th century that there was a religious attachment added to it, which is Hatha Yoga
Actually Yoga predates all known religions, by about 3000 years, which is odd when it is considered new age

Thanks for the explanation. I'm glad it's working for you

 

[MagicalMom]

Sorry, I was being a little sarcastic.

Since there is no such thing as "lower abs", it would be impossible to isolate that area.

Actually the abdominal area is divided into 4 quads; right upper, left upper. right lower & left lower.

 

[JMD]

Actually the abdominal area is divided into 4 quads; right upper, left upper. right lower & left lower.

4 quads? What the heck is that?

There is no "right upper" or "left lower" ab muscle. And there are more than 4 muscles that make up the abdominals anyway. Please tell me you don't try and isolate your upper left abs. Its just not possible.

 

[MagicalMom]

4 quads? What the heck is that?

There is no "right upper" or "left lower" ab muscle. And there are more than 4 muscles that make up the abdominals anyway. Please tell me you don't try and isolate your upper left abs. Its just not possible.

No, not muscles but the areas are divided into quads. I think the poster was talking about the area.

 

[JMD]

No, not muscles but the areas are divided into quads. I think the poster was talking about the area.

Call them whatever you want, you cannot isolate any of the "quads" of the abdominal area. Plain and simple.


The OP asked for exercises to isolate the lower abs. First, its impossible to spot reduce, and since there is no "lower ab" muscle, there is no way to isolate that area.

Other posters have already given good advice on exercise selection and decreasing overall bodyfat. If the OP follows that she will be on the right track.

 

[cybrkitn]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I understand that I can't spot reduce. What I was looking for was exercises that could help me lose the weight and strengthen that area (or as I put it, extra flab) in addition to the usual exercises. You know how certain exercises will help that area of your body? Like doing leg lifts help strengthen your legs for example.

I lost 30 lbs in my last trimester of pregnancy 5 years ago and loved the fact that after I gave birth to our DS5, I could fit right into regular clothes immediately. However, I have found it difficult to lose the area where DS was positioned for 9 months. I gained back most of my pre-pregnancy weight over these 5 years and have tried to lose weight again. I lost 6 lbs, but not in the area where I really need it, and then I gained it back and some. So now I'm right back up to where I was prior to pregnancy.

What good is it to lose weight and have pants and skirts fit around the waist but not right below if I can't lose it there as well? It seems as if extra weight goes there, but doesn't want to come off .

 

[Taqwus]

Is the area where you are trying to lose fat or just loose skin
If it is fat you can lose that, if it is extra skin then that is harder to lose

 

[cybrkitn]

Is the area where you are trying to lose fat or just loose skin
If it is fat you can lose that, if it is extra skin then that is harder to lose

Good question. I think it's a bit of both. After I had my DS, everything was stretched and I assumed that area would eventually go back down. It never did and when I gained weight, it seemed to go more to that area in addition to every where else. So when I lose, I'll lose it every place else except that one area. It seems to be the hardest place to lose any weight and flatten.