The Ab Crunch

catfishingdude · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 11:37 PM

I am a beginner at Ab exercises and I have recently starting doing the basic ab crunch. I've got the overall technique down pat. It is just I can't get my shoulder blades to come off the ground. Is this normal for beginners like me? Any advice?

Also, if anyone has any other beginner ab exercises please let me know. Thanks!

Cheryl · #2 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 05:00 PM

To ensure that you are using the correct form and technique...I would recommend you use a chair to elevate your legs...so you isolate your ab region. So, while you are lying on the floor.....place you calves on the seat of the chair....knees are directly over hips...and knees and feet are on the same plane ...also remember to keep you chin open...you should be able to place a tennis ball under your chin...exhale on the way up...in hale in the way down....Eventually with a lot of practice you'll be able to get higher....I always tell people to try and go up high enough, so that if someone was behind you , they could see your bra strap on the way up....
I hope that gives you a good visual !

There are MANY threads on here for Ab exercises......if you type it in the search bar you'll find many examples of Ab exercises !!!

Keep in touch!
Cheryl : )

catfishingdude · #3 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 12:49 AM

Thank you Cheryl for the advice! I tryed your idea of the chair and it really helped! I feel it more in my ab region now! Thanks! Also, I was wondering I ride the stationary bike practically everyday for about 35 minutes or so and I go around 7-8 miles on a pretty tough level. At the end it says I've burned on average around 500 calories. I weigh 167 pounds and I around around 5'8"-5'9" I don't know if you would call it this or not but I still have a little bit of a belly (I don't know if you would call it that or not) but I was wondering should I continue to try to lose as much of the extra stuff around my waist in order for my abs to show through. I don't really want rock hard abs, so to speak, I just want to get them to the point where they will show. My sister also said that it could be extra skin around my waist, what do you think. Over the past couple years I have lost around 75 pounds, so I'm thinking it could be extra skin but I'm not sure.

Cheryl · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2008, 02:25 PM

Riding your stationary bike will burn calories...about 500-600 a hour.....over time you will not burn as much simply because your body will adapt to the workout...and you'll burn less calories and have to challenge yourself once again...so instead of burning 500 a hour...you may only burn 450, then 400....( every 24 days you need to change your workout)

Your ab region is due to diet....you can do 200 sit ups a DAY and STILL have a huge gut IF you are not eating the right foods.....you'll always have a huge layer of fat over your muscle...UNLESS you change your eating habits...

Your BMI is a little high....not that bad though...YOu need to only lose about 10 lbs..so that is probably why you feel like you are carrying a little extra fat in your ab region.....if you lost 10-12lbs...you most likely would have a leaner ab region...

so stay away from all junk! No crackers, white bread, nothing fried, no soda, no creams, sauces, or cheese, no salt, or alcohol, or cookies, cakes, crackers, pretzels...
it's all junk............with zero nutrition! All of it causes Bloat!

I hope I helped you !
CheryL : )