ab crunches, are they effective?

[BLAZING IN FL]

I've been doing abs for about 2 months. The first month i did 4000, this month i stepped it up to an average of 5 times a week doing 400 crunches, i'm at about 4200 so far for the month.

what i want to know is what is the purpose?
I can't see any muscles because of all the fat and extra skin in my tummy.
Are they under there?
will i ever see them?
do they serve any other purpose other than giving someone the look of a six pack, cuz i don't think i'll ever get that look?
Basically, am i waisting (bad pun) my time doing these?

[Hudson]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Well, I would say that any exercise is good exercise. But, you are right. To see your six pack or see if you have one you must be quite thin.

[Richt]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Blazing what it does do, is train you into sucking your tummy muscles in. Does that make any sense? (as well as building a six pack for some)

When you are doing you crunches, you automatically have your stomach sucked in. The more you do, the more used you are to having your tummy like that.

Ok, I am confusing myself with the explanation, but does it make any sense?

Btw, I actually quite liked your pun

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Blazing what it does do, is train you into sucking your tummy muscles in. Does that make any sense? (as well as building a six pack for some)

When you are doing you crunches, you automatically have your stomach sucked in. The more you do, the more used you are to having your tummy like that.

Ok, I am confusing myself with the explanation, but does it make any sense?

Btw, I actually quite liked your pun

why do you want to suck your tummy muscles in? are we supposed to suck them in? i don't do that, mine sticks out....let me try that.....i'll be back.

[ttdriver]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Spot reducing in a well known myth. You can't get rock hard abs by crunches alone .. it must be done in conjunction with eating right and incorporating cardiovascular exercise into your life.

While there is a benefit to doing crunches, they alone will not produce 6 pack abs. For me, I didn't see my six pack until I reached my weight loss goal and became a consistent runner.

Betty

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Spot reducing in a well known myth. You can't get rock hard abs by crunches alone .. it must be done in conjunction with eating right and incorporating cardiovascular exercise into your life.

While there is a benefit to doing crunches, they alone will not produce 6 pack abs. For me, I didn't see my six pack until I reached my weight loss goal and became a consistent runner.

Betty

WOW! your abs look great...i am doing cardio also, I just have some more weight to lose before i see those abs...dh said to do them now, so when the weight is all off, the six pack will already be in the fridge..hee hee.

[Richt]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

why do you want to suck your tummy muscles in? are we supposed to suck them in? i don't do that, mine sticks out....let me try that.....i'll be back.

For me its a natural thing, they sort of force me to suck them in. (abs that is, not someone standing above me forcing me)

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

For me its a natural thing, they sort of force me to suck them in. (abs that is, not someone standing above me forcing me)

don't people look funny walking around with their tummies tucked in?

[Richt]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Its not something I think about to be honest, its sort of a habit.

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

Its not something I think about to be honest, its sort of a habit.

i just walked around with my tummy tucked in, maybe that's a guy thing??? it kind of pushes your chest out...i felt like tarzan...so that won't be for me, but i do appreciate the suggestion.....maybe one day this fat will be gone and the 6 pack will show up and i'll post a pic...thanks for all of your help guys.

[Elizellen]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

don't people look funny walking around with their tummies tucked in?

Probably to someone used to seeing the way young girls walk and stand nowadays, it would look odd.

The modern body stance seems to be tummy poking out and bottom out too forming a sort of 'S' shape when seen sideways on.

When I was a girl and at grammar school we were always told to keep our tummies sucked in and bottoms tucked under - I even wore a 'deportment badge' proudly for the time I was there because I have a naturally straight stance!

My pilates teacher told us that she has problems getting younger students to correct their stance by drawing their stomachs in and pelvic floor up but that it is important to do it to strengthen their 'core' and to avoid back problems in later life.

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

well, if your pilates teacher said to do it, then i guess it's ok....tummies tucked in, ready to go......

[kate58]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

i just walked around with my tummy tucked in, maybe that's a guy thing???

Or maybe not. Have you seen this? Very funny.

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

OMG, that was awesome, that's how i felt walking around with my tummy in...hee....hee...awesome commercial

[Hoping]

Re: ab crunches, are they effective?

I love those commercials! I think they're hilarious.
The sucking it in isn't just a guy thing. I think it's a bit natural when you stand up straight. For me it is, anyway.
I've gotten used to slouching, and I'm trying to correct my posture and when I stand up straight I somehow just suck it in. I don't think about it, but I've caught myself.

My grandmother walks around with her belly sucked in all the time. I mean 24/7. I don't know how she does it, but I guess it's practice.