Flat stomach/tighter skin

**angelfaces** · November 5th, 2007, 01:41 PM

ok so have heard this before on here but thought i'd ask for some detailed routine exercises for it because it's the part of my body I most want to work as it's the part which has most changed since I gained weight.
My stomach is soft and floppy and yes it does hang down a bit(I weigh alot

) i'm now on a serious eating plan to remove the fat increase the muscle and bring it back but just want to b clear...
I was doing crunches like crazy because I thought that'd b what works but then get told it's cardio works the best on it. how much crunches/running exactly should I do per day to get drastic results?? I want my stomach to lift up and go in, I am working on reducing the fat but in the process don't want to end up with soft flabby stomach/skin, so what best method to make it firmer??
any advice is appreciated

!

**mooshue** · November 5th, 2007, 04:25 PM

well im a guy so its probably different for a girl as far as the stomach goes, but i still have yet to get my stomach flat after nearly 3 years.
Crunches strengthen the abdominal muscles. The problem is there are layers upon layers of fat covering them. Youll never see them until you loose the fat. Fat loss comes from getting your diet and cardio workout under control. I do as many as i can possibly do, but thats just me. In my opinion if you arent going to exhaustion your arent working as hard as you can. I think i may just have some loose skin covering the last set of abs there on my stomach and may need surgury but im not going to stop trying.

I think your question is can you do whats called spot reducing, which you can not. Your body takes fat away from other areas first regardless of what you work.

**gunshowbabe** · November 5th, 2007, 04:26 PM

Your tummy should start shrinking the more fat you loose... about the skin, that depends on how stretched out the skin is. You should start keeping a photo diary so you can keep track of your results... otherwise it will be hard to tell and you will get discouraged. It will take time first of all and patience... as some people have told me.

First of all you have to figure out how many calories you are eating to determine how many calories you have to burn, and according to your body, how much cardio. On average I hear that a lb of fat is between 3000-3500 calories. You don't want to just stop eating because that will hurt you in more than one way... it will slow down your metabolism and it is just not healthy for your body... so doing that is not smart. Let's say you want to loose a lb per week... cut down 250 cal from your diet and burn 250 in cardio... so that's 500 cal per day... to tone your ab muscles you can do leg lifts for lower abs those have worked good for me so far.... crunches are good too for the upper abs. I hope this helps : ) good luck!

**bhen13** · November 5th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Running helps too

**iluvwmn** · November 5th, 2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhen13

Running helps too

Amen to that. I use the eliptical machine too. It kicks A$$. 700+ cals 4 days a week at 40 min. Man does it feel good.

jruiss01 · November 5th, 2007, 08:38 PM

it's a common misconception for people to think that spot reduction can work. your body is a funny thing. one would think that strengthening or toning a certain muscle group would enhance that muscle group's features. this isn't the case (for your abs at least). the only way to really get a flat stomach is through the right balance of cardio and diet. i am a guy and i find it is very hard to maintain or even come close to a six pack. i personally think that six packs are genetic, but that is beyond the point. when you begin the weight loss process your body will reduce fat cells according to a certain formula. first you will begin to lose fat in an organ called the omentum which hangs from your stomach, this is where most men get their beer gut from. then you will start to lose fat in other places ie stomach, thighs, and butt. the more cardio you do and mix in a healthy diet you will see yourself lose the stomach fat. the crunches and whatnot tighten the abs giving them a more muscular look. of course it is different for everyone but that is the general concept. of course you can use fat reducers such as hydroxycut but i wouldn't recommend that.

**Italianangel** · November 6th, 2007, 12:31 AM

Get on an hour cardio 5 days per week, abs 2-3 times per week with reverse crunches, hand to foot ball pass and weighted crunches on the ball.
Stick with that diet plan of yours and then just repeat this until a month goes by and I know you will see a diff and then that will motivate you to go on longer and next thing you know, 2 months goes by and you see hope!!!
this is my prediction of things if you stick with.......
Linda