Lower ab excercises

[Lynda Silk]

Does anyone have any suggestions re exercises for the lower abs? I've been doing crunches, leg raises and situps, plus exercising at Curves and watching my diet for about 2 months now, but my lower abs still feel like jelly. Is 2 months too soon to expect more firmness? Or are there exercises that are more effective re the tummy area?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[MelanieC]

Hi Lynda,

Congratulations on working out for 2 months!!

What you may be experiencing is just the fat over your belly and not that your actual lower ab muscles are not firm. What happens is that you can't spot reduce the fat. Only a combination of diet and exercise can make that fat go away and unfortunately the tummy fat (also hips and thighs) is the last to go because its the 1st to be put on. Just keep working them and eventually the fat will melt away and you'll be left with great abs.

I am the same way, its my belly, hip and thigh fat that is left. I can definately see my upper abs getting lines down each side from doing abs almost every day. Someday when this fat is completely gone, mabye I will see the lower abs.

In the meantime,

Alternate lower and upper crunches (with your knees bent) and after you do that hold 3 upper and lower crunches for about 3 counts. Also try this with one foot over the other and one knee over the other. This actuallly works the lower side abdominals. There are 6 mucles I believe in your abs. So you have to work all of them.

Hope this helps. If I didn't make sense, let me know and I will try to explain better.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Leg crunches will definitely help with lower abs. If you don't know how to do em, then here's 1 way: Rest your back on the floor and put your feet up on a chair or something about 14 inches off the floor. Then lift your legs and pull your knees to your chest with feet staying in the air. these should help

As far as sit-ups go, you're better off eliminating them from your exercise as they don't utilise the abs very much at all. They pull the hips and the potential for hurting yourself is higher than using crunches which are more effective.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks Melanie and Maureen for the advice and for the encouraging words! I'll definitely try those leg crunches and probably stop those situps.

Melanie, what's the difference between lower and upper crunches? I"m going to try your suggestions as well but I wasn't sure what a lower and upper crunch was.

Thanks again for replying!