Losing My Tummy

[Maximumtest]

Hi all... i've always gotten good advice here in the past ... so here I am again.... all be it with a slightly boring question... I have a little bit of a tummy... nothing major or anything... i'm 21.. 5'6 and I probably weigh about 145lbs (theres a pic thread of me if you can be bothered to dig for it) but i'd like to look the best I can for the next time I meet up with my girlfriend at the end of January. Can anybody tell me how I can lose a little weight and tighten up my tummy... crunch/sit up techniques or anything would be helpful. sorry this isn't a blatantly sexual question.

Thank Ppl

 

[SethRD]

Do some running. Crunches/situps will tighten them into a 6 pack. (Yes, that is a good thing.)

 

[Astro]

Running or time on a stair machine will increase your general cardio-vascular fittness - increase stamina etc

Situps and the like are very usefull for getitng rid of the tummy and will increase your staying power during sex. If u find situps are too easy ie: u have to do alot of them before u feel the burn - try to do them with your bum on the floor and your legs over the bed, this is much harder.

 

[redbarron77]

Caridovascular excersize for 20-40 minutes daily. Combine this with modified diet(more fruits and veggies), and sit-ups, crunches, and leg-lifts(with proper form). If you have any possibility of a health problem, work with your doctor or a personal trainer at a gym. The personal trainer may sound corney, but they can show you more specific excersizes that will get you to your desired results faster, and safer. I was a Master Fitness Trainer in the ARMY, and know that doing excersizes improperly can result in injury, or not reaching the desired results.

 

[Astro]

I was a Master Fitness Trainer in the ARMY, and know that doing excersizes improperly can result in injury, or not reaching the desired results.

Why did u put army in caps?

 

[sweet T]

If you are not a fan of running..
I have found race walking very effective in trimming lots of problem areas...

 

[JoseIsWild]

I do 20 situps a day and it made a big improvement on my tummy. I never had a weight problem..in fact, I am underweight for my size, however any evidence of my excessive sugar intake shows up around my tummy.

 

[webber1998]

I used to work out every morning. Had a gym in my basement the whole 9 yards. While sit ups and cardio work help to trim it, I used these three set of crunches for helping to build it, with a little extra weights for some extra resistance.

"
Crunches

Most already know how to perform this abdominal exercise. It's basic, yet highly effective. Perform crunches by lying on a flat surface with your hands either across your chest or behind your head. Contract your abs. Hold for 2 seconds, then return to the starting position. Crunches should be performed in a continuous and controlled fashion.

Side Crunches

Side Crunches are basically the same as regular crunches, except the main focus is on the oblique muscles (love handles). The same technique applies, only your crunching to either side of your abs. You should feel the burn of the sides of your abs.

Bench Crunches

The bench crunch is best performed with your back on a floor mat and your feet on a bench (upper legs should be at 90 degree angle). Again, the goal is to take the hip flexors (upper thigh muscle) out of the movement and force the abs to do the work. Once you're in position, lift your upper back off of the ground and contract your abs. You don't have to touch you elbows to your legs, just contract the abs!

"

 

[CelticFrog]

Why did u put army in caps?

Probably because the ARMY is well known for its stringent exercise program. Also because Master Fitness Trainer by itself doesn't say much. Master Fitness Trainer in the ARMY is a hell of an achievement, one that many people set goals to achieve. Also because anyone who has enlisted in the military for reasons other than college money most likely is proud as hell of that decision and their chosen branch and rightfully should be.

JMO.

Ang

 

[Blindinthedark]

You can also try incline situps with weight. That will also make it much harder.

Abs need to be burnt out to grow and shape. A pretty good way to do this is do 100 situps with the fewest breaks possible. Do situps until you need to rest, say 30 reps, rest for a minute or less then continue until you need to rest again. Repeat till you reach 100. As you get stronger take fewer breaks and when you can do this routine with 3 breaks, raise the weight.

After the first day your stomach will feel really tired but they will get stronger very fast.

Good luck.

 

[Maximumtest]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice.... i'll try the sit-ups... sadly I don't get much opportunity to run or jog... though going up and down stairs all day at work sure as hell helps.

Joseiswild really hit the nail on the head with:

I do 20 situps a day and it made a big improvement on my tummy. I never had a weight problem..in fact, I am underweight for my size, however any evidence of my excessive sugar intake shows up around my tummy.

which is pretty much the same as my situation. I think my sudden need to lose my tummy comes from an inadvertant knock to my self esteem... having not seen the girlfriend for 3 months, we laid down on her bed together... she put her arm around me and said.. oh... you got bigger. She then laughed off the comment.. but it's stuck with me.

Many Thanks for the advice

 

[jpschust]

ok this is a slightly different suggestion as its not direct technique, but overall workout advice. im a highly competative road bike racer and have been competative in a number of other sports as well, so this comes from someone who loves working out.

the biggest problem i see in my gym with people trying to lose weight or whatever their goal may be is that they don't enjoy what they are doing. working out should be fun. there are plenty of sports and activities that work your abs that are fun. anything cardio that gets you to move around a lot will work your abs.

the other problem i find is routine. the human body thrives on routine. you need to make whatever you do a part of your day, and if its fun you will look forward to it as well. i personally prefer to work out in the morning as it wakes me up for my day.

the third issue is eating. im very anti atkins personally, but the atkins isnt designed for someone like me. a great way to cut a lot of unneccesary junk from your diet is to just stop eating red meat for a while. there's a lot of crap in red meat that is really harmful, and while there are certain benefits, you can get that elsewhere. also dont snack on junk. my big thing when i was getting into training was that instead of going for candy or chips for my snacks id eat baby carrots with nonfat ranch.
apples and clementines are good too.

so some general stuff, but most off, make it enjoyable. if it isnt enjoyable then it wont work.

 

[midwestyankee]

ok this is a slightly different suggestion as its not direct technique, but overall workout advice. im a highly competative road bike racer and have been competative in a number of other sports as well, so this comes from someone who loves working out.

the biggest problem i see in my gym with people trying to lose weight or whatever their goal may be is that they don't enjoy what they are doing. working out should be fun. there are plenty of sports and activities that work your abs that are fun. anything cardio that gets you to move around a lot will work your abs.

the other problem i find is routine. the human body thrives on routine. you need to make whatever you do a part of your day, and if its fun you will look forward to it as well. i personally prefer to work out in the morning as it wakes me up for my day.

the third issue is eating. im very anti atkins personally, but the atkins isnt designed for someone like me. a great way to cut a lot of unneccesary junk from your diet is to just stop eating red meat for a while. there's a lot of crap in red meat that is really harmful, and while there are certain benefits, you can get that elsewhere. also dont snack on junk. my big thing when i was getting into training was that instead of going for candy or chips for my snacks id eat baby carrots with nonfat ranch.
apples and clementines are good too.

so some general stuff, but most off, make it enjoyable. if it isnt enjoyable then it wont work.

These are all excellent points. A year and a half ago I went on a mostly vegetarian diet to reduce cholesterol (it worked) and lose weight (it worked very well). But the key has been vigorous exercise done routinely. If all you do is reduce your caloric intake your body will adjust and make itself capable of living on the reduced intake. The exercise burns off calories and keeps the body demanding more (your metabolism) that are then available to be burned off.

Good luck. BTW, while it's true that the situps and crunches will tighten your abdominal muscles, they will do nothing to remove the fat that is hiding those abs. Only the exercise and reduced intake will do that.

 

[ShysubGuy]

OK, where to start.
I am about the same size as you Max, I'm 5'7" 155, I'v been working out on and off for years. I try to get to the gym 3-4 days a week.

First off diet is the key to losing weight second is cardio, you can do all the sit up you want but if you have a layer of fat hiding your 6pk you won't see them.

Try to cut out the junk food (I know, it's not easy) but fat and sugar will pack on the pounds around the waist. Every other day I try to eat fruit or eggs or oatmeal or a good power/ protein bar for breakfast instead of donuts or some other crap. For lunch I'll have a grilled chicken or turkey sandwich (no mayo). For dinner I'll have pasta or chicken or lean red meat or fish and veggies(I hate veggies) instead of a burger and fries. Also, drink lots of water and less soda.(the less sugar the better) You just have to change some of the BAD things you eat to some of the good things.

Second is cardio/ weight training. Don't just work the abs work the whole body, legs, arms, chest, shoulders, back, the whole body. A good site is www.mensfitness.com, or pick up their magazine. They have some good home workouts there and great nutritional advice. (No! I don't work for them)

But... and a big But is you gotta do the cardio, running walking, playing a sport, something. (I play hockey once a week) Cardio is key to loosing weight.

If you change your diet, hit the weights and do just some cardio(20 mins 2-3 times a week) you'll see results in a few short weeks.

Before you start you have to be motivated to get in shape. Just think of what your girlfriend will say or do when she sees you!

I hope my advice helps(and makes sense), good luck.

Shy

 

[jpschust]

honestly,

men's fitness is a joke. they are all about pumping the newest and greatest trend out there. i really think they fail to look at the basics of things. i think you could learn as much from the posters of stretches on the wall at a gym. do what you enjoy for at least 20 minutes a day (cardio) and eat right, and you will be on the road to success.

 

[ShysubGuy]

honestly,

men's fitness is a joke. they are all about pumping the newest and greatest trend out there. i really think they fail to look at the basics of things. i think you could learn as much from the posters of stretches on the wall at a gym. do what you enjoy for at least 20 minutes a day (cardio) and eat right, and you will be on the road to success.

True, but most muscle mags are the same way. I feel M.F. has some good home workouts and nutritional advice that I think would help. Plus, if I tried to post ALL my advice here it would take forever.