Help with abs!

[lds_dancing_princess]

Is there any advice you can give me to build better abs? I have dance classes 5 days a week and I do floor pilates and pilates with a ball every day.I have stomach muscle, it just isn't as difined as I would like it to be. I have 2 pilates dvds strictly for abs , but it isn't doing anything!! I've tryed crunches( I can do 85) and sit ups ( I can do 80 of those as well) for months now, but it isn't helping! Does anyone have any advice that can help me?

[Mel Johnson]

Well, there are things that could be done, but why would you want them? Female dancers don't usually look for well-defined abs. You don't want to look like a body-builder or a power-lifter, so why? What you should be looking for is a sleek look and defined abs break that up. And besides, you're fighting hormones. Female hormones make muscles long and slender.

[Guest SunshineMC2004]

I took weight training in high school, one thing they taught us was that your abs are different from other muscle groups in that reps don't really help. Abs are better to do as many as you can and then stop. Try to do as many straight, or try three sets of 50. I don't know if this will help but it worked well for me!

[MYBkid]

I have a similar question. I have a flat stomach in general not because I have muscle. I have been doing crunches and pilates for my abs. I stopped fully growing last year so for the past year I have been building muscle definition in my legs naturally through ballet classes, and in general I am pretty toned. I won't use measurements of any sort I will just say size is not the issue. My one teacher told me that my lower abdominal muscles "do not exist" which I believe to be true but I guess I was wondering will they ever exist? I am doing cruches, and pilates for abs, are there any other things I could do? Or will they hopefully just eventually exists with the supplements?

[Claude_Catastrophique]

I am rather lazy with abs so you may try this (you can even do it in bed ) Okay...you lay on your back as flat as possible your arms at your side and now you lift up your legs just a tiny bit of the floor and stay there as long as possible. You won't get bored if you read a book. (This is rather for the lower abs)

[Mel Johnson]

For those who need lower abs, those below the navel, pull in, lift up. Now stay that way. You'll be surprised at what it does for your extension, especially to the front!

[lds_dancing_princess]

I don't want to look like a body builder, I just want them to be flatter and sleeker. I guess I didn't explain myself very well! My stomach is flat, it's just not I guess you could say as flat and as toned as I would like them to be. Are there any specific exercises I could do for them? I don't want to look like a guy ( that's the last thing I want!!! I just want that area more toned!

[Mel Johnson]

Ah, that's better! Sunshine has the right info on abs - they don't respond like other muscles and bulk up into a sixpack or washboard abs. That looks awful on a girl anyway. Both Claude and Sunshine have good suggestions there.

[Danzatriz]

those below the navel, pull in, lift up.  Now stay that way. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Hmmm... Im sorry Major, but, could you elaborate on this?

 

*(im guessing you mean to permanently stay pulled and lifted, as in a placement matter, but im not too sure -and im really looking to work on my extension and if i can get those abs working at the same time thats sure a great extra! )

[Guest dancergirl587]

Im glad somebody posted on this. Unfortunately not matter how hard I danced or worked out my stomach is STILL flabby! What's good to work the middle tummy area, and of course those awlful lovehandles I have?! Thanks in advance.

[Guest i dance in uggs]

try doing side crunches.. lay on your side and crunch up.. sounds weird to explain but its pretty basic. it gets rid of that excess on the sides

[kellyisthebestintheworld]

for love handles you should try this:

lay on the floor on your stomach with your feet together. have someone hold your feet. lay with your arms in front of you and lift up. hold for ten long seconds. My teacher has us do that for strengthing. I think it works your abs and your sides, where love handles are.

[Guest SunshineMC2004]

Yeah I am definatly going to need to do work for the love handles! I just tried the skirt on for the show in April, and the waist band is a tight elastic.... and well... let's just say that does not make one pretty line! I found a pilates video that has been good with core exercises so far!

[KayP]

Just a general comment on this topic:

 

You can have the most toned abdominals in the world, and still not be able to see them if you have any fat on your stomach--this inculdes "love handles." 1,000 cruches won't make that fat go away (it's been proven that you can't "target" areas where you want to get rid of fat). It's important to eat a healthy/balanced diet if you want to get rid of the extra fat.