Crunch Club - beginners - lets get those abs in shape

I really need to start doing some ab exercises and I am TOTALLY out of shape in that area. workout tapes are too hard for me...any one else?

i thought we could start out simple and have:

-share ab exercises within the thread
-share tips for flatter abs within the thread
-updates on your inch and what you are doing



wanna join in?


to start:
- say hello :)
- measure in - you dont have to post your waist number if you dont want to.... just post your inch loss goals or talk about the improvement you want from your efforts.
- post what your exercise goal is to start crunching those abs
- share updates on your changes and improvements

- hello to myself! and i hope other people join in.

- waist 28.5 goal: 24-26 (i have a waspy waist)
i want to see more toned abs with the defined line down the middle.

- exercise goals to start: 50 crunches daily

Hello to everyone!

I need some help in the 'ab department' as well.  I've got the diet and general excersize things figured out, so it's time for some ab work!

Starting waist measurement was 36.5, through diet and excersize I'm down to 33.75, I'd like to see 30.0 max.

Thus far I'm doing no ab excersizes, so I'll start with 30 crunches today, and everyday this week.  And then increase by 5 each week until I reach 100.  Then I will reasses from there, I may need to really change the routine up by then to continue seeing results.

Good luck, and nice meeting you! 

Hello to everyone!

I believe my waist right now is 29, I would like to lose 3-5 inches, not really sure what would look best, but definitely want to lose a few inches.

Right now I have a pilates ab video (soooo hard for me) and a Denise Austin video where one part focuses on abs. I guess I'll start today with doing 50 crunches a day and do an ab video at least 3 times a week.

I'm excited! I haven't been apart of a group before and I hope this keeps us all on track, good luck!

Hello to everyone!

My waist is 28 inches.  Goal is 24-25 inches

My abs measure 33 inches around.  My abdominal muscles underneath are firm and strong and I have a strong core.  But it's the overlying layer of fat that I still have to work on and crunches don't do much for the fatty part.

I do 100 crunches every other day and do the series of ab exercises in my full body workout class.  I also make sure that I engage the ab muscles in every exercise that I do.

So I think that it's not more ab exercises that need.  I think I have to go back to my diet plan and see what I can modify so that I can lose the fatty layer on my abs.  Maybe some of you are in the same predicament?

I'd like to come in on this... don't know about inches but would def like some muscle! This may sound like a dumb question... but where should i take my waist measurement? higher or lower than belly button... i can never work it out! thanks all

Food_freak : I don't know if this is correct or not, but for me I do my measurements at the widest part of all measurement areas. My hips at the widest spot, and waist and the part that looks biggest..which for me is basically at the belly button.

I want in! LOl i saw this post earlier... then i couldnt find it again haha. Need to find a measuring tape but I need a flatter tummy. (its the hardest part) I'm not sure what I should start at... i work out and stuff so i think i could do a pretty decent amount.. not sure on the number.... Any goal suggestions?

Well, I did my 30 crunches last night before bed, and found out that 30 wasn't enough.  Apparently I have some muscles hiding in there somewhere! ;)  So I did 50, by that time those hidden muscles where screaming at me to 'PLEASE STOP!'  So  I will do 50 everyday this week, increasing by 5 per week until I hit 100.  Then go from there.

senoritakel- I would start with basic crunches, maybe 40 as a beggining number, then as a goal, try to eventually double it.  Then reassess when you hit 80.

Good luck to everyone, and have a great day!

look what i foooooound!:

http://exercise.about.com/cs/abs/l/blbeginner abs.htm

"

Beginner Abs & Back The following exercises are basic moves targeting the abs and back. Always avoid any exercises that cause pain and, if you feel lower back strain, modify the move to a comfortable range of motion or place a rolled up towel under your hips to support your lower back."

______________________________________

i had the tummy fat too.
i killed it (which i never thought was going to happen)
i cut my cals by about 200-300 from my maintain cal count and my body burned pure fat. hardly lost on the scale but i can see the difference and my fiance said something about it too.
i did lose about an inch on my waist by doing that.


you can find "how to measure" guides online in clothing stores size guides. they have a nice little picture and everything usually.


i didnt get to do my crunches - no excuses - well not really i just did 25 to see if i could but that really isnt much effort. lol


but i do have to do them ALL today.
 

Hello all!

I am totally in on this!

In total I would like to lose 9 inches! I know that sounds like a lot but I have a long way to go!

I really like those exercises on that site antoinette_lebrun! So i think if i do about 6 reps of each of those exercises and 1 other one that i have. That's 48 everyday and then i will add a few more on every week!

I'm really excited about this!

Hello :)

Another thread you might want to check out...
This is done by CC member "Slappy" on a monthly basis and it's a 10 minute a day of ab work challenge.
There are tons of links to great exercises as well.
You can combine challenges :)

Just food for thought....
Monthly Ab Challenge

Good luck!
MC

Hey Ladies,

The Fab Abs thread is also a great tool. I wanted to chime in and say you should check my profile for ab workouts. I have had great results and wanted to share. Good luck to all.

Ok, so i just finished my ab exercises and whenever i go to do the motion my body starts shaking. Does anyone know why this happens?

It's because your muscles are out of shape. Do you stretch or warm up well before starting?

Okay so i am starting to day. Goal is 40 a day ( thanx for the advice) measurements- i did three- hips, around belly button and waist hips- 38 waist-31.5 bellbutton-34.5

Not sure what the healthy numbers are but a few off all areas would be nice!

thanks ab superstars for chiming in!
cant wait to read over your stuff and check out that challenge!

dont know if i am in shape enough to do it yet..
but..hee hee

i'll get there

thanks again!

Shill: no i don't stretch. I always forget and don't even think about it. What kind of stretching or warm ups should I be doing?

Here are some really good ab work i learned from physical therapy:

- abdominal hold - suck your tummy button to your spine (not really but that's what you picture when you do it)
 *do this one during the day and while walking.

- washing machines
       stand with legs shoulder width apart and do an abdominal hold while teisting only at mid section. Once you get more into it, start to hold everything in.

- crunches 
         do this with an abdominal hold and keeping your back flat on the ground. Also, to to relax your knees more until they are more extended but still slightly bent.

- boards
    lie on your side. Use your arm to brace yourself and do an abdominal hold. then, lift yourself up until your holding yourself up but your forearm and feet. hold for 30 seconds. relax. repeat for both sides.

-cat and cow
    it's not really a tummy move but it relaxes your back. start on all fours with and start with you guessed it - and abdominal hold. then lift and lower your back like a cat and cow do.
    If you get really good - try balancing on three limbs with the other one extended. If you think youre up for it - go for balancing on opposite limbs (like right leg/left hand)

-Hundreds
    Lie flat on your back - abdominal hold. Lift leg about 6 inches off the ground and pump your arms up and down beside your legs 100 times (or as many as you can stand)
this one is really good for when youre watching tv.

hope this helped!

-caiti

Stretching is an integral part of exercising. You could walk for five minutes until you are loose and "warmed up".

-Stand straight and do over-the-head side bends, stretching you obliques.

-Lie on your back with your hands on the floor straight against your body. Alternate lifting each leg, starting the next before the other touches the floor. This will warn your lower abdominal area.

-I like to do cherry pickers to warm up and engage my abs. Take a medicine ball (start light, maybe 5 lbs) and stand straight with legs shoulder width apart. Hold the ball out in front of you with straight arms. Lift above your head and then bring it to the floor, bending at the hips and keeping straight arms. You will go between your legs tapping the ball once just in front of your feet, again a little farther back and again as far between as you comfortably can. Come back up, raising the ball over your head again with straight arms and then repeat. This exercise really loosens your back and engages your abs. Just make sure you don't stress your back. Focus on drawing in your abs and keeping your legs strong.

Those are just some.

I just got home. I had a full day, I'm exhausted, hungry, and whats worse is I know I have just as long if not longer day tomorrow. Plus I was pretty grouchy, then I saw this thread and decided I might as well get those 50 crunches out of the way now..

WOW do I feel better. I did a good 5 minutes of stretching then all my crunches, and even though my abs are burning I have to say I'm in a much better mood than I was 20 minutes ago. I'm also energized and ready to go start making dinner. This is definitely a pleasant surprise.

So today I did my 50 crunches plus this morning I did my pilates abs video -- I've decided I'm going to do modified versions of all the exercises, even though that makes me feel 'weak', I think it's better that I take it easy and focus on my abs instead and soon I will build up to the normal versions.

Alright, I'm off to go have a nice dinner and enjoy my second wind! :)