Weight lifting question

[floydgirl]

As I get closer to goal, I am quite happy with how my legs have firmed up with exercise (weight lifting and walking giant hills). However, my arms are still very flabby and I have a belly pouch. My arms and belly aren't as big/flabby as they used to be, but they still need a lot of work.

Would it be o.k. if I stop doing weight lifting exercises for my legs (but continue walking those challenging hills) and just concentrate on my arms, belly, shoulders and back? These are the areas that really need the attention. Or would I be doing myself a disservice? I know there is no such thing as "spot reducing" but I can't stand how my arms, especially look. Any thoughts?

[iyamamaschke]

I'm not too sure what exactly is going on are the arms flabby or just big>> I don't think that quitting doing your legs is the best idea. I would say to just drop weights and do more reps so as not to buil them any more. Walking is great for the legs but, it doesn't tone the legs like certain weight bearing exercises do. They tone they entire leg with different exercises where wallking does not. I would say stick to the weights but less.

As for the arms if they are flabby you may want to start doing some deep tissue massage on them where you take cream and squeeze very hard increasing the circulation so that your circulation increases and your body can naturally shrink the skin up. For the arms it is a good thing to do triceps and biceps. If you are only doing biceps the arm is not being fully formed you need to do both consecutively to build a nice shapely arm.

It's a lot of hard work but well worth the effort. I understand that the arms are not your place of happiness as my legs are not mine. It seems as though you must have put a lot of excess on your arms and it's taking longer to lose it from there, Keep at it and I am certain that your arms will shrink as well.

I don't know what elese to suggest you are doing so awesome and I am so happy for you. Way to go girl.

Keep on keeeping on.

Sarah

[snorkelman]

At least you understand that there is no such thing as spot reducing. That is key.

Just keep in mind that your legs have your largest muscles of the body and working the legs out will always be a good thing. I always think that it is funny how when you go to the gym you see guys lifting weights and they may have nice upper bodies, but they walk around in baggy pants rather than shorts because they have sticks for legs.

I suggest that you focus on cardio, because when you do cardio you will burn the fat. you really need to burn the fat first and then focus on building more muscle.

Just so you know, it is almost impossible to get a 6-pack (killer abs) unless you have very little body fat. Yes, i know the exercise commercials tell us diffeently, but think about it. You can do hundreds of crunches and you won't ever get the perfect 6-pack unless your body fat is low enough.

So, focus on cardio and for your weight training, i would do some that hits several muscle groups at a time (pull ups (or lat pull-downs) as an example.

[floydgirl]

I always think that it is funny how when you go to the gym you see guys lifting weights and they may have nice upper bodies, but they walk around in baggy pants rather than shorts because they have sticks for legs.

Just so you know, it is almost impossible to get a 6-pack (killer abs) unless you have very little body fat. Yes, i know the exercise commercials tell us diffeently, but think about it. You can do hundreds of crunches and you won't ever get the perfect 6-pack unless your body fat is low enough.

I've seen those guys around too and they do like hideous. I don't want to look like that, thats for sure. lol

I had to chuckle, I'm not interested in 6-pack abs. I'd just be happy if I could get rid of what I call my "baby pouch". I think I would be down one more entire size if I could get rid of that!

[2big4mysize]

baby pooch has to do with the fact that when you were preg you increases the diameter of the muscle layer under that fat too. Sorry.

You don't want to quit your lower body as you need to rest your worked out lifting muscle groups the day after so you could add upperbody workouts to your lower body days or alternate them id you go daily.

There is a list of what lifts work what muscxles best posted in the exercise forum somewher or you can ask the staff at your gym to asssit you with an upper body work out. One thing about upperbody workouts is that your tricepts and biceps get worked on just about every lift for the other body parts too.

Happy low carbing.

[floydgirl]

Thanks, 2big, as always, you are a great source of information!

[ttdriver]

Free weights for the arms along with the good ol' fashioned push ups ...
Use the weights for your biceps and triceps, work your arms to muscle exhaustion ... if you can do more than 12 reps, then you need heavier weights. Start at 5 pounds and work your way up.

For the belly, I strongly recommend an exercise ball ... OMG, mine has worked wonders on my abs. Also, reverse crunches help alot too (rather than lifting your head to your knees, lift your legs over your head as you lie on your back. Lift your legs slowly and lower them slowly.

Hope that helps!

Betty

[floydgirl]

Thanks for the tips, Betty. I had to laugh -- 5 lbs. of weight is nothing for me. I do more like 20-30 lbs. for my arms. lol. My triceps are a lot weaker than my biceps. I really have to work on them. hmmm, I never thought of push-ups -- Great idea! Maybe I'll have to see about an exercise ball.

[2big4mysize]

the ball is great for lots of free exercise too I use mine as a chair.

If your gym has a roman chair you can get a great ab workout lifting those knees to your chest while haning supported by your forearms works the upper body too as you got to have shoulder strength to stay up there too.

My trainer said you can't overwork abs and to go till you can't go any more of course you can't move tomorrow either. LOL

[floydgirl]

My gym is at home! I need a personal trainer! I thought you could overwork your abs. I'm always learning something new on this board!

[2big4mysize]

several of them in the gym said go till it burns and you can do no more then take your normal rest and hit them again 3 setts. most folk can do way more abs then they think they can. work all 3 areas too. since you are home lay on your side and do a push up liftng your hips off the floor resting on your shoulder and feet. if you can't then use your shoulder and knee that is the best workout for your obliques.

You might want to look at the Body For Life site for an upperbody workout program. there are also links on the board for other weightlifting sites for women if you check the search feature or the exercise board.

[snorkelman]

There are a lot of myths about ab workouts. First off, training your abs does NOT burn fat off your stomach.
If you want to see your abs, tighten up your diet and do more cardio!

If your abs are covered with a layer of fat, you won’t be able to see them, no matter how often you train, no matter how many reps you do or no matter what exercises you do.

Most people in the gym overtrain their abs. Training your abs daily or
even every other day for hundreds or thousands of reps is totally
unnecessary and a complete waste of time.

I promise if you do your ab workout slow, you will not be able to do more than 50 crunches. Go slow up, flex your abs for 2 seconds at the peak and go back down slowly.

[2big4mysize]

oops forgot to tell you you have to turn over and work the other side too on those bridges.

snorkelman she said she isn't looking for 6 pac abs, just toning up and yes you can have a 6pack ab and not see it inder the fat but toning up andstrengthening the muscles will help no matter how much fat is on top of them as Abs are used in lots of daily activities too.