lanmaniac

Hi,

This is first thread I've started, I hope this isn't a repeat. I am doing great with every other part of my body, but I can't get rid of my love handles ( my gut is disappearing rapidly ). I do normal crunches, about 50 per workout session, 4 times per week. Can anyone give me some tips/pointers?

unp

crunches are not an aerobic excercise so they have little to do with weight loss. If you want to lose the love handles you need to do cardio and/or reduce you calories.

Loup

Just as unp said, you have to add cardio into your routine to shed the fat that is over your abs. 50 crunches 4 times a week are a lot of work for the abs - it needs its rest like any other muscle. I would cut it down to 3 times a week 2-3 sets of 8-12 using a variety of crunches (Swiss Ball helped me a lot).
Best of luck with your goals.

__________________
"If you cannot lift the load off another's back, do not walk away. Try to lighten it."
~ Frank Tyger

lanmaniac

swiss ball?

Loup

Swiss Ball = Exercise Ball

__________________
"If you cannot lift the load off another's back, do not walk away. Try to lighten it."
~ Frank Tyger

EleqTrizi'T

They're right, you just have to burn off more calories. Fact is, to get abs to show through fat, you've got to have a really low percentage of body fat.

For man its like <10% or 8%, for a woman it's like <15%

soccerchamp76

Common misconception: Spot reduction
If someone has fine chest, arms, legs, but a lumpy stomach, they think by doing 1000 crunches a day will help them lose their gut. It will, but only because you are burning calories. As stated above, you have to lose the fat that masks the stomahc muscles. You dont even have to have strong abs to have a six-pack; my cousin has a six-pack (he is a teenager) but only because he is incredibly skinny, his abs aren't strong.
In a nutshell, running on a treadmill coupled with a healthy diet will help you lose the gut.

rogue49

I don't know about that.
There are techniques to focus on a part to develop some muscle in the area.
Yes, do the cardio and the good diet...that's a must
but there are other things...

* When you do your situps, do some of them with your legs bent to the side, this will focus your muscles on your obliques.
* When you do leg lifts on your back, do some with your torso slightly turns to the side. (this is awkward at first)
* Make sure you are doing some things for your lower back,
many forget to get this area, it does affect the overall (take it easy though!)
* There are oblique machines out there which will place weight resistance vs. you turning your torso or waist.
* I like the standing leverage board...most end up doing their back on there, me I make it a superset.
First 10 straight up & down for my back,
then I shift so one hip is on the pad, then I slowly curve my spine down & up,
and after 10 I switch to the other hip.
This is GREAT for love handles.
Start slowly, with your hands down by your sides,
as you get better, you can increase the leverage by placing your hands behind your head.
(BTW, this looks great...the girlies love this one when you do it)

But remember to keep a good diet, and mix it up.
Good luck.

N14_PULSAR

basically what everyone has said

"abs are made in the kitchen"

a healthy diet with regular cardio sessions avoid heavy carbs at night and saturated fats

EleqTrizi'T

Women should not excersize their obliques, IMHO. That will cause them to lose their womanly shape, and start getting a square abdomen similar to a man's.

lanmaniac

thanks rogue, I will take note of that. I think we have a standing leverage board at the gym I go to ( on campus ).