how did you get your abs?

people who have abs (toned) how did you get them? what was your routine?

I don't know if I can comment on this or not since I don't have toned abbs anymore, but i used too about 2 years ago hah.  I would log my calories (not 100% a ruff estimate) then I would run on a treadmill untill I burnt at least 75% of those off.  Its not really the boring because I would watch a movie while I ran, so i got a good movie in.  That kept the weight off my gut (by getting a total body workout, keeps the fat burning from the core, situps actually dont do crap for burning fat off ur gut)  I didn't notice much definition when I was just running so I did leg raises, flutter kicks, and inverted situps.  I also had a buddy I worked out with and I would lay down while he stood up and I would grab his ankles and he would try to push my legs to the ground.  (its hard to explain, I was using him for support with my legs up in the air as close to his head as I could get them)  We made a game of it, whoever lasted longer won haha.  Also I did the bridge building everymorning when i woke up befor I got out of bed.  (I started off slow, but eventually I would do it untill my snooze alarm went off)  Oh yeah, and if you don't know what bulding a bridge is, its when you put your toes and elbows on the ground and keep your body as flat as a bridge! Its an awsome work out)

I hope that helps you out a lil bit!  Oh an remember that you can do 1000 cunches a day, and it wont help you define those abbs!  (well it will, but if you ran 5miles a day it would helpe 1000x more haha)

Visible/defined abs are a function of low body fat, low body fat is best achieved by proper diet.  Weight lifting and interval cardio are also helpful. Direct ab work isn't any more effective than doing compound exercises (squats, deadlifts, military press, rows) and it doesn't have the added benefit of working all your other muscles.

diet 80% 20% fitness

try eating clean!

Original Post by iamme1270:

diet 80% 20% fitness

try eating clean!

 i eat very clean

so basically just a bunch of cardio &sticking to my diet will give me abs? it'd be kinda hard to burn 75% of what i ate... is that really necessary?

lol peacelove- i didn't actualy mean to burn 75% of what you eat--

it's the opposite-

EAT 6x a day clean - 40/40/20 protein/carb/fat - and complex carb w/protein each meal- dump ALL white stuff (sugar, potatoes, bread, rice) limit fruit to AM along with oats and whole grain breads before 3pm & work out full body challenging your core in ways other than just crunches

one of the few ways to get ripped abs from the front & side view is to eat in a way where you keep insulin constant thru the day, thus inhibiting the conversion of carbs to fat that tend to park in the midsection...

listen, i gave up 'crunches' completely about 2 months ago- i increased my squats, deadlifts, and functional training -- and my abs are FAR FAR FAR more than just a ripped 6 pack now-- from feb/march to april/may NOW? I've got a full six pack along with obliques, low abs and low back-- It's an S curve in women from the side- and ripped packs from the front--

i just mean, you can crunch until you die- and never see them-- if you EAT to lose the body fat on the abs you have- and apply sound, sane working out lifting/cardio- then you'll have the ripped mid-section!

cheers & best of luck!

I eat 8 times a day, and take in about 4,000 calories...most of it is good food, but I started out taking in about 1700 calories to get the abs to show.  now that I have the 8 pack that I wanted...I'm taking in more, and doing ab workouts with weights, and they are popping out pretty crazy.

oh and lots and lots of sex (yes i'm serious). 

agree on the sex, lol-- it's an incredible core workout if you know how to make it work!

lol.....First of all getting your body fat down first is the way to go.  I did the same thing so that I could see my abs more, and it worked out well.  But, what you want is that “POP”…right?....cool&helli p;.no problem.  Lifting with weights is the only way to get the pop out abs that you want.  I suggest doing supersets twice a week.  I do weighted ab crunches either with the cables, or a 45LBs. plate on a stability ball, then I move right into oblique’s, and stability ball crunches with weights.  When you do any ab workout…do it INTENSE.  Keep your diet the same if it’s working for you, and increase your cardio a little bit, and add a little more protein to your diet. You’ll be fine.

oh and another thing...whatever your last workout for your abs is...do it to faliure to get the extra tightness.

so, im not going insane. there really IS alot of sex talk on the forums!

Original Post by eddiepotter:

lol.....First of all getting your body fat down first is the way to go.  I did the same thing so that I could see my abs more, and it worked out well.  But, what you want is that “POP”…right?....cool&helli p;.no problem.  Lifting with weights is the only way to get the pop 

 what are supersets?

Original Post by iamme1270:

lol peacelove- i didn't actualy mean to burn 75% of what you eat--

that was directed towards keynan, sorry for not clarifying.

keynan: "I would log my calories (not 100% a ruff estimate) then I would run on a treadmill untill I burnt at least 75% of those off. "

Peacelove- ok, cool!

- eddie is a freakin monster none of us could keep up with-- and super sets take some time to work up to!

for now- keep it simple and use these concepts to design your ab-plan

• make a good insulin constant diet where you eat 5-6x a day complex carb/protein mix to reduce ab flab /body fat
• you're on your way w/the cardio to burn superfluous kcals
• add in some compound weight lifting moves
• lower # of crunches-  but make em burn- bc all the crunches in the world won't show the abs, unless you drop body fat- not just lbs- actual fat
• work the core- from upper, lower, side abs, and your low back as well!!!
• mix it up- please don't just do only crunches on the floor- there's soooo many ways to work abs- mix it up & you won't get bored!

good luck!

supersets= no rest between exercises.

I ate a low fat diet that was very high in protein and fiber.

My personal goals are in distance running and triathlon so I run 3-4 days a week.

Then 3 days a week I resistance train and in my resistance training I incorporate alot of core work. I am not an advocate of going to a gym. That is just my personal preference. I train against my own body weight and use dumbells between 8 and 20 lb.

I always wanted a toned stomach and once I went low fat and started this particular exercise regime I had the V within a couple weeks and the pack just keeps getting better each day.

I think lowfat is definitely the key. As for your workouts well I think that depends on your personal goals. You would train differently if you were a runner as opposed to a boxer or a body builder etc.

Oh and absolutely the sex helps!

Hey -- Bella -- that is exactly what I wanted to hear as far as the gym goes.  I hate going to the gym -- but I need some guidance on a good cardio/strength regimen that I can do at lunch time at work (jogging, running, walking, etc.) or at home in the afternoons. 

This pic of me and my rugrats was taken in Sept. of last year.  The holidays hit, then I had surgery and I've probably gained between 8 and 10 pounds since then and just want to get rid of that and tone up again...and past that point.  I was starting to see a little six-pack (or a four at least - ha), but now, it's just about gone.

I've started back on a high fiber, low fat diet.  No sugar, lots of water.  I'm thinking I'd do much better if I laid off all carbs after around 3 or 4 in the afternoons but I always have to cook for the family -- or we're at the ballpark and we usually end up doing concession or fast food.  Any suggestions?

I need somebody to hold me accountable for my progress...somebody to compete with.  I am SO competitive and that helps me out tremendously. -- Hubby is wonderful, but every time I talk about dieting or exercise, he tells me I look great and don't need it.  I need somebody who will have a freakin' fit if they hear I drank 5 pina coladas in a day (uh...like last Saturday - I know...TERRRIBLE!) and gripe me out for it.

We have a 10th wedding anniversary beach trip planned for the first of August and I want to look better then than I did when we got married. 

Help, help, help.....

No one said anything about extremely low body fat percentages. I have a very healthy body fat percentage and I have ab definition.