STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

killa · Dooney & Bourke

My Gut.

RyanJ · Coach

The plank is my favorite ab exercise to do. It can be an ass kicking.

Sometimes I will be on my hands instead of my elbows. I hold the plank or I will slowly lower one knee to the ground then bring it back up and do the same w/ the other knee. I do that till I can't anymore. I try not to do a certain number just as many as I can do.

I also like this one.

The whole time I try to suck my stomach in to really get a good workout.

I also do the bicycle, crunches and reverse crunches.

Jen will probably have a bunch of ab exercise that can help to.

NCshopper · Hermes

Hmmm...part of me wonders if you should have your thyroid checked out. I think thyroid problems can cause weight gain. Since I'm obviously not a doctor and am purely speculating, you might want to do some research online about thyroid problems and see if any of that applies to you. If not, then I'd think just some simple exercises will help.

I also wonder if it's just a metabolism thing. I've noticed that as I've gotten out of my teens and am now in my mid-twenties, my stomach isn't quite what it used to be. Damn metabolism and desk job!!!

killa · Dooney & Bourke

I had a thyroid test at my last gyno appt., so I know it is not that.

I am a month away from turning 30, so I am sure my metabolism is slowing down.

So so so so so unfair.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I would resort to an ab workout.

Being on the topic of your body, here is something this lady told me yesterday at work....

So she has these stretchy lounge pants. She is overweight but not obese. She started to say about something of the stretch of the fabric that doesn't really flatter her. I said how I didn't think the fabric mattered too much, it has more to do with the cut and fit of the pant. Then she said how I would NEVER understand being as I was skinny. What a bitch, she only went in the topic of the material so she could tell me that!

Drew · Gucci

Sorry, but no amount of ab exercises is going to help get rid of a gut, if that is really what you have. If a layer of fat is on your stomach, you could have perfectly muscular abs but never see them because of the fat.

The only way to get rid of a gut is through diet and cardiovascular exercise.

If your metabolism is slowing then just up your cardio or be more careful with your diet. It would be strange for your fat to move from one spot on your body to another, unless you have had liposection in that area, so if that is the case, then that's the culprit.

Good luck!

member · Hermes

Drew wrote:

Sorry, but no amount of ab exercises is going to help get rid of a gut, if that is really what you have. If a layer of fat is on your stomach, you could have perfectly muscular abs but never see them because of the fat. The only way to get rid of a gut is through diet and cardiovascular exercise. If your metabolism is slowing then just up your cardio or be more careful with your diet. It would be strange for your fat to move from one spot on your body to another, unless you have had liposection in that area, so if that is the case, then that's the culprit. Good luck!

I totally agree w/Drew - couldn't have said it better myself. Abs are made in the kitchen. I would definitely keep doing your ab exercises, as they will build muscle, under the fat, but you have to burn the fat off through cardio. Also, diet is sooo important.

RyanJ · Coach

Do you actually have a gut or is your stomach just flabby? From the post I assumed that you are in good shape and just wanted to tighten up your stomach. That is why I suggested the exercises I did.

killa · Dooney & Bourke

I am generally pretty fit. I teach group exercise classes ... do cardio about 5x/week, weights about 3x/week. I guess I have to up the ante and add another 30 min to my usual 60 min of cardio! I already knew that cardio would help (because of my health and fitness background), but I thought maybe there were other tricks.

I also know that what you eat is a contributor, so I have cut out bread, rice, pasta, cookies, crackers, etc. after 2 p.m. For example, I can have a sandwich for lunch but at night it is only salads, or lean meats and veggies for me! I have only been doing this for a week or two, so we'll see.

Does anyone know of any specific foods that contribute to the gut area? I have a feeling it is carbs and dairy products like ice cream.

Alikat · Kate Spade

Maybe your body has gotten used to the exercises and weight routines you do? Sounds like you do plenty.

I'd definitely evaluate your diet - sugars, processed foods, etc can be problematic to flat abs. Especially if you retain water. I recently bought the "Abs Diet" book - its great, its more about eating better than being a strict diet which is nice. It has some great protein shake recipes! Its written for guys, so I just downsize the portions a bit.

halleybird · Hermes

I know very little about exercise, but it seems sort of sudden. I gain 100% of my weight in my stomach (pretty sucky), but it seems weird that your body would change so suddenly unless you're very young. Someone in my family had a similar situation, and it was due to a hormone imbalance (estrogen deficiency, I think? something related to her hysterectomy), so you may want to get that checked out.

Metric · Gucci

halleybird wrote:

I know very little about exercise, but it seems sort of sudden. I gain 100% of my weight in my stomach (pretty sucky),

As do I. My limbs all stay lean while my torso turns into a tree trunk. It sucks. I am having a bad body-image day.

halleybird · Hermes

Metric wrote:

halleybird wrote: I know very little about exercise, but it seems sort of sudden. I gain 100% of my weight in my stomach (pretty sucky), As do I. My limbs all stay lean while my torso turns into a tree trunk. It sucks. I am having a bad body-image day.

Ah, someone who feels my pain! Every one of my female relatives (on either side) has this body type, too. I know exactly how you feel, except my limbs are not "lean," they're "chickeny." But don't feel bad; we all have those days.

Drew · Gucci

killa wrote:

Does anyone know of any specific foods that contribute to the gut area? I have a feeling it is carbs and dairy products like ice cream.

I have heard that before, but I don't know if it's a fact. Personally, it makes more sense to me that you simply store fat where you're gonna store it, and differences come in how your body breaks down a type of food, not in storage, but again, I'm not sure.

Ritz · Dooney & Bourke

i think adding any more cardio to what you do seems excessive.. maybe you are just in a work-out rut and need to change it up a little... I would search this board for Jen's HIIT info (or read her column) and try that instead..

Alikat · Kate Spade

Drew wrote:

killa wrote: Does anyone know of any specific foods that contribute to the gut area? I have a feeling it is carbs and dairy products like ice cream. I have heard that before, but I don't know if it's a fact. Personally, it makes more sense to me that you simply store fat where you're gonna store it, and differences come in how your body breaks down a type of food, not in storage, but again, I'm not sure.

I don't think that certain types of food contrinute to gaining weight in your abdomen. I've read that fat storage in the abdomen is related to your metabolism, so getting older might just be it.

It is true that if you eat things that make you bloated it will affect your abdomen... so changing your diet can affect your abs that way.

Another interesting abs related fact I just learned is that you can't train one part of your abs (like upper versus lower) because it is one muscle.