- 10/22/08: Newsletter
- Strengthening Your Legs
- Working Out on Empty Stomachs
- Making Cardio Less Painful
- Avoid Crashing
- Coping With Sweets
- Increasing Metabolism
- Organize Your Training
- Eating Habits
- Visceral Belly Fat
- The Best Running Shoe
- Strength or Aerobic Capacity?
- Toning Legs with Cardio
- My Doctor's Scale is Off
- More Reps and their Effects
- 04/24/08: Newsletter
- 1-08-08: Newsletter
- 11-08-07: Newsletter
- 10-03-07: Newsletter
- 8-29-07: Newsletter
- 6-20-07: Weight Loss
- 6-13-07: Back Injury
- 5-08-07: Friendly Pressure
- 4-27-07: Running Routines
- 4-20-07: Cycling Cardio
- 4-10-07: Back Injury
- 4-03-07: Lunges Quads Butt
- 3-27-07: Running Off Fat
- 3-27-07: Runners Diet
- 3-23-07: Eating Late
- 3-13-07: Abs for the Obese
- 3-07-07: Supplements
- 2-21-07: Carbs Weight Gain
- 2-14-07: Accurate Bodyweight
- 2-07-07: Weight Fluctuations
- 1-30-07: Best Oatmeal
- 1-21-07: Winter Cardio
- 1-14-07: Training Children
- 1-10-07: Sick Bay
- 1-03-07: Shin Splints
- 2006: Archives
- 2005: Archives
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03-13-07// Abs for the Obese
Should I wait until my waistline is thinner before I start working abs?
Chris:
I have some questions concerning my current workout. I have had some success with loosing weight over the past year. I workout 3 times a week with a 40 minute cardio session and then I alternate Chest and arms with legs and back and shoulders. It seems as though I am ready to kick it up to the next level. When I asked my trainer about adding some abdominal workouts to my routine the answer was, “ No” because I still have a lot of fat on my belly. He said we need to work it off before I start working abs. I know I still have a lot of extra weight around my waistline, but I feel like the abs workout will help.
Sincerely,
Brook
Brooke:
Your trainer is probably telling you not to worry about working abs because he knows you will never see your abs until you burn off the fat layers that are covering them.
However I have mixed feeling about this. I believe he’s right in the sense that only a proper diet and cardiovascular program will expose your abs but that doesn’t mean you should avoid a weakness. In fact I believe there are many reasons to include abs in your program.
My philosophy has always been to target the areas of your body that need the most work. In fact I believe that the main reason many people have weaknesses is because they just don’t work them. For example if you think you have skinny legs and you don’t include them in your program than guess what? You will always have skinny legs. Instead you should target your legs. Make them the first workout of the week when you have the most energy. Concentrate on good form and gaining strength. Add in some exercises that you have never tried before. Eventually you will make some improvement. It wouldn’t make sense to concentrate on your upper body first while your legs remain weak and small then add legs when your upper body completely overshadows your lower body. The same concept can be applied to your waistline.
Working abs will also help you avoid injuries. As you get stronger you will be capable of harder workouts and heavier weights. These workouts will put your body under stresses that you are not used to. Your abs are important because they act like stabilizers that protect your back and other parts of body from getting hurt. Adding abs to your workout will help you build a strong core and greatly reduce the chances of serious injury.
Last but not least, you will get better results if you work your entire body. The best way to burn fat is to work all muscle groups. Leave no stone unturned. It doesn’t make sense to work some body parts and skip others. Think of your body as a machine that works best when all parts are maintained.
In closing I believe there are many reasons why you should include abdominals in your program. Looking good is just one reason.