Which exercises for the "middle"?

[Harley Chick]

I work out 5 or 6 times a week, weights, treadmill, dancing, pilates. My arms and legs are looking pretty good (if I do say so myself ). The problem is from below the rib cage to the big fat you know what. What do you folks do to exercise this area? I have to do stand-up type exercise because of an injured back and knee. Help!!

 

[tiggerlover]

If you are talking about the stomach, hips and behind than I would recommend the elliptical trainer for the hips and behind (legs too) and I have been told for the stomach (still waiting to put it into practice) you should do situps or crunches. I hate situps and crunches, but I really need to do them, I told DH last night he needs to make me do them!

 

[Octoberbride03]

Situps are a waste of energy, you use very little ab muscle when doing situps. Crunches, done correctly, are the exercise that really engages the abs.
I do Pilates myself, and after 3 months i find my my abs are more prominent and my middle shrinking more effectively than with any other exercise I've tried. Pilates often usues a variety of crunches and similar exercise to engage the entire abdomen.

Harley Chick: If you absoloutely have to do stand-up exercises, then i think you should talk to a trainer or physical therapist to help you out. They'd know more about your injuries, and advice from here may only injure you worse. I don't know if anybody on this board is a PT.

 

[Kimickey]

Do you put weights into your exercise program. DH uses weights, and I use the dyna bands (or what ever you call them). The Dyna Bands are good for toning your muscles, not light weights where they bulk you up. I use the bands for my abs, by doing certain arm exercersises and it works. Another thing I do for abs is Tae Bo, not only are you working your abs you are also working your body.