Crunches

I try to go on an elliptical about 5 times a week for about 35 minutes.  The problem is I'm still not getting the results I would like to see in my stomach/love handle region.  I don't have any speical ab machines or any other gym type thing so I'm wondering where I should start.  How can tone the stomach... like a specific way to doing the crunches.  Also, how many crunches are recommended for a good workout.  50? 100? 500?  I have no idea of a range.

well i will say that the ab area (core area) is the hardest to tone and see the results.  you have to get rid of the fat on top to see the muscles.  The cardio helps with that.

As far as ab exercises I do the following close to daily..

1 minute of crunches with my legs straight up in the air

1 minute of scissor kicks.  Scissor kicks are when you straighten you legs out in front of you.  Then lift them off of the floor so they are at about a 45 degree angle (the lesser the angle the harder they are).  Then Kick you legs to make a scissor motion.  I mix up how wide I kick them as well as the speed (less wide = kicking faster)

A set of side planks (12 each side).  Side planks are when you lay on your side and balance your body on your forearm and side of your foot.  you have to lift those hips up.  Make sure you stay in a straight line.  you should feel this in your obliques (love handle area).  once you can balance there move your hip up and down so that it touches the floor and comes up as high as you can go.   For a challenge, do the 12 and then hold the plank for 30 seconds to a minute.

I do this workout 3 times in a row.  Also there are many workouts that you can do with a medicine ball and/or a stability ball.  If you have those available let me know and I will offer up some more exercises. 

The abs are hard to tone and a big part of it is doing the cardio.  I also find that it helps to make sure your abs are always engaged.  this will help with posture as well. 

What other exercises can I do besides crunches to help with my stomach and love handles?

kicks are good for your stomach... side kicks help your love handles.

Actually, just about every exercise can affect your stomach if you make it. when you're on the eliptical keep thinking of pulling your stomach into your spine. This will tone your stomach as you are working out. The stomach can be hard to tone because any exercise you do (crunches or otherwise) won't help much unless you focus and make your stomach do the work.

hth!!

Some crunches that have been assigned to me are real killers.  I use a balance ball to do my crunches.  Basically you don't go all the way up, and don't let yourself go all the way down.  if you were a hand on the clock, you'd crunch from 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock and that's it.  Now here's the kicker; take a full TWO SECONDS to go up and another full two seconds to go back down.  You'll find that keeping yourself at this angle your abs will always be contracted and there's no resting position.  I usually do 2 or 3 sets of 20.  they take a while because you are going so slow.  They do burn tho!

these are all great exercises, and all of them will help tone your abs. unfortunately, you just can't spot reduce. people lose weight like an onion, in a layer over the whole body-nothing will change that.

what will help, along with those great ab exercises and the cardio you're already doing, is to cut out processed sugars and to cut back on breads, pasta and rice. eat lots of fruit and veggies and lean meats(if you eat meat, that is), you'll find that your stomach is less bloated, for lack of a better word.

Claire, I was reading an article by a personal trainer and she said that one way she keeps her abs in shape is by tightening up her stomach muscles throughout the day. You can just tighten it and hold for 5 seconds and that is equal to doing one crunch. An even better one is if you tighten and suck in and imagine like you are trying to get your belly button to touch your spine.

You can do these anywhere, anytime. I do them in traffic, at work, while watching tv, at the grocery store, everywhere! My stomach is a trouble area and I do notice since I've been doing this my abs seem a lot better.

As for the love handle area, I am having a really hard time finding an exercise that helps that. I do things that are supposed to help that area but nothing seems to work.

I totally agree with lynda and sarah, really pulling in those abs while working out and during the course of the day will tighten and strengthen them.  I've been doing that for awhile and I really notice a difference.  Beyond that, sometimes no amount of ab work can get rid of that little lumpy spare tire thing (I have it too blah).   But its much better to have strong abs which support your back strength even with a little jiggle on the sides.  Good luck!

*ribbet*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vahcTt4IQ4A&am p;mode=related&search=

watch this

Thanks, I can tell the crunches alone are working.  I was just curious as to what else was out there to help get rid of the excess.  Thank you all for your suggestions and support.  You're the greatest........

Crunches will never rid you of the layer of fat that is covering your abs. The only way of getting rid of that is through aerobic exercise. If your elliptical training isn't giving you results, step it up a bit. Do some interval training, increase the resistance. Running is also excellent for shedding fat around the tummy. Crunches might tone, tighten & define, but they won't get rid of the FAT.

Also, you don't EVER need special equipment. Crunches, reverse crunches, etc etc - they are all excellent exercises for toning and strengthening your core.