Stomach flab

How does one tone up? I go to the gym every day and am pretty fit, but the flab on my stomach just won't go away. It's so frustrating. Sit-ups don't seem to work. I need something that can be done, preferably at home (when I can't get to gym during vac). Are those exercise balls any good? Any suggestions how to tone up that are effective (and not thousands of crunches)? Also, how does one get rid of underarm flab? I'm only 20, play a lot of squash and it still hangs around. The frustration!! Any ideas? 

Amen to that! I'm 20 as well and have the saaaaaaaaame problem. I've been doing a sit-ups routine and even after months and months of THAT, I've seen no results except excrutiating neck pain (because I obviously hadn't done them right). My brother, who is a work out buff and lost like 80 something pounds, has rock hard abs. He gave me a little 411 session, but I don't think it was built for my body because I could barely move the next day. The whole week after for that matter.

I can suggest how to tone up your underarm flab, though. I bought this little contraption from Wal*Mart for $15. It's called the MAGIC PILATES CIRCLE and at first, I was skeptical of it, but after I used it for 3 months, I seen drastic improvement in my arms and thighs! I lost 2 inches off of them, so I guess it really is magic. I just do the low maintenance routine every night and it keeps my arms and legs in better shape than they have ever been. I throw in some stretches, yoga, and cardio during the week too, but my abs is by far the worst part of my body.

Sorry for the novel. If you're interested, I can find a link to buy the MAGIC PILATES CIRLCE online if you can't find it in stores. But that's just my personal recommendation!

Hyl

Hey flutterbye, if want to lose falb you haver to do cardio and watch what you eat. You are talking about spot reduction that doesn's work. Watch your calorie intake and do plenty of cardio.

Heya Hyl

Please could you give me the link for it, I'd really be interested.

Bodyscience

Thanks for your input. :) I do do a lot of cardio already (run 2-4kms per day) and i watch what I eat but it doesn't really seem to help. I really wish that it would just melt away on a treadmill!

It REALLY IS hard to get rid of belly flab. Watch the sugar/carbs; fine tune your ratio of protion to carbs to fat. Sit-ups don't work (to get rid of flab) -- you have to get rid of the layer of fat that's over your muscle. You don't need any equipment or props, cause that will just build muscle -- you want that, sure -- but like I said the fat is OVER the muscle, and the muscle isn't going to show until you get rid of it.

I have that stomach flab problem as well it sucks! I do an hour to 2 a day of walking will that help me tighten my stomach up? I have never had to deal with this cause as those hateful jerks in the bar and around the watering hole say Iam a fat !@! and I;ll never change. wont they be surprised when they see me in a few months lol.

Check out this article on High Intensity Interval Training. It's tough but it definitely works. Don't be put off by the fact that it's designed for bodybuilders. The principles are the same, this will work for anyone who can stick it out. HIIT. Very slight language warning.

I feel the same way I don't care how small I get that belly flab just won't disappear.

Ok, this used to work when I was younger and I wanted to lose my flab around my abdomen....suck in....I mean when ever you remember to....if possible throughout the day! 

Even now I dont have much of an abdomen, but that's mainly genetics...though everything else is sticking out.  But when I was your age that's what i did.  Especially when I was carrying something heavy or going up or down a staircase I sucked it in-not so much that i didnt breath, but it makes your abs tighter!!!

.  The other thing that helps me a lot now (after a baby and being almost 30 yrs old) is doing the criss cross situps...I dont know what you call it sorry.  Hands behind your head locked or behind your ears, on your back, instead of bending both of your knees at once, bend one while pointing the other one straight out (being about 6 inches of the floor), and lift your torso as if you are trying to make the opposite elbow touch the bended knee.  Did you know what i mean, is there anyone else that can explain this exercise better?

I weigh a lot, but my abdomen looks good, dont ask me how...i still have probs with my arms too so if someone has a good routine i'd like to try it.

ooh, here are some good arm exercises!  Hope this helps...

http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?code=2 8326&cmi=2426282

Ramp up your cardio routine and really watch what you eat. Take a step back and really see your log. Tweak the ratio of your Fat-Protein-Carb. Watch those fat, and only eat complex carb, and remember to have your protein.
If your abs complain is primarily lower abs, well, that is even tougher :) women tends to be rounder on that region to begin with. In that case, be even more discipline. Good luck.

Hell I wished I had the answer, I excerise and I road ride (bike) I am very active and I have stomach flab I mean it is not too bad but it makes me mad. I work out my abs everyday and I have had only one child 26 years ago my stomach never used to be this way and maybe it is my age. I am 44.

I think the simple answer is loose weight.  What I've found is my stomach is the LAST place for weight to come off.  As I near goal weight... it looks like I've been working my abs pretty hard - I reality it's just the last of my fat leaving.

The best way to lose stomach around the mid-section is to rework your diet. Make sure that you are eating strict six days a week and only have one day a week where you have a few small cheat meals. Protein, complex carbs from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and a lot of water. This is the way to go. Next obviously is lifting with compound exercises (bench press, squat, deadlift, military press, barbel rows, etc) All of these if done correctly utilize your core and will give you a great workout there. They also all help to build muscle the fastest which is what you want to lose fat.

To take it even further, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) works great for targeting bodyfat. Read about it here :http://caloriecount.about.com/hiit-thread-pos t-all-questions-routines-ft143813

Sit ups do not remove body fat.

belly flab is the last thing usually to go.

the way to get rid of flab is cardio.

maybe eat a little less and cardio a little more.

Original Post by mikethedoofus:

Sit ups do not remove body fat.

belly flab is the last thing usually to go.

the way to get rid of flab is cardio. Strength training

maybe eat a little less and cardio strength train a little more.

There, fixed it for you. I give it a B-; right general framework and promising start marred by a common misconception in the details at the finish. I'd mark you an F for that, except most people make that mistake initially by confusing short-term efficiency with long-term effectiveness.

Original Post by melkor:

Original Post by mikethedoofus:

Sit ups do not remove body fat.

belly flab is the last thing usually to go.

the way to get rid of flab is cardio, in the form of, Strength training

maybe eat a little less and cardio in the form of strength training a little more.

There, fixed it for you.

Fixed again for you.