Lower Abs Workouts?

Kara85

Hi everyone -

I started working out & uping my exercise well before I got engaged for general health reasons. I'd like to loose some weight but mostly I'm interested in toning. Right now I'm thinking about my abs - specifically my lower abs (that part just below your belly button and above your hips - ya know?). I've been able to see noticable improvement in my upper abs but not so much this lower area. Any suggestions? As a side note, my dress does hug my waist, with rouching, so if I could get this area of my stomach toned up by summer I'd mostly just feel more confident, even if it wasn't that noticabele a difference in terms of my dress. Thanks.

carlenenicole

Anything with leg raises while laying on your back is great for lower abs. Flutter kicks are great and there are a lot of pilates moves that have you raise your arms and legs to a v shape while on your back,that's a great exercise too.

DoyleNYCfitness

Also try Slow Mtn Climbers.  You can put your forearms on a stability ball to make it more difficult.

aim for 30 seconds 3x through

http://youtu.be/yLmu9gPocLc

Greg

Lobsters25

Ditto on the leg raises.  FI and I do one together - I'll try to explain it as best as I can - 

Person A lays down on the floor and person B stands over person A's head.  Person A grabs onto person B's legs for stability, and person A raises their legs straight up.  Person B then pushes person A's legs down toward the ground, either straight or to the side, and person A has to try and keep his/her legs straight and keep them from touching the ground, before bringing them back up.

I really hope that made sense, but it's working wonders for me.

shaunaceyh

Jillian Michael's 6 week 6 pack has some good overall ab exercises (and some cardio) and after doing it my abs hurt (in a good way)

carlenenicole

I agree with the Jillian michaels video-my abs were all over sore the next day

arwo

I'm bummed that I am about to be the negative nancy here--but I am going to do it anyway.

I don't agree with any of the posters above. I don't doubt that the suggested exercise will strengthen your abdominal muscles. However, doing all the ab exercises in the world will not "tone" your lower abdomen. All they will do is make those muscles stronger.

When people think of "tone" what they really mean is a combination of low body fat, and increased muscle size. You need to have both of these things to be toned. Just strengthening the muscles won't do it; neither will simply losing body fat. Sadly, you can't spot reduce.

I suggest regular exercise (whatever you like best) for decreasing your body fat percentage, and strength training for increasing muscle. You won't get bulky; women simply don't have the testosterone levels to bulk up the way men do.

J&K10910

I agree with Arwo, and also?  Your abs?  All one muscle (at least the ones running down the front middle that everyone considers their "abs").  All those exercises suggested work your....abs.  Not your upper abs or lowers abs.  Just your abs.  But that's really just semantics--however it's good to know when making your work outs, IMO.

JacklovesSarah

Anything that you can use your abs to lift your legs up. I lie on the ground, legs in the air, knees bent at a 90 degree angle and I use my lower abs to lift my butt into the air.

Could also trying sitting on the edge of a chair, lifting your legs off the ground and then pulling them toward your chest by bending your knees. All the while, keeping your legs from touching the ground.

Like the pp said, you can't spot reduce. It has to be a combination. Little muscle groups don't reduce on their own.

Try Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. It's a combination of strength, cardio, and abs. That, with eating correctly, will help you to lose that tummy. But remember, work your little muscles in with the big ones.

MLincoln17

I agree.  I love Jillian Michaels.  Her 30 day shred video is amazing.  I was doing it for a while and did lose some weight; however, I put some of it back on and plan of hopping back on the Jillian Michael's bus today.  I would jog for 30 minutes and then do her video after and I really began to notice a difference.  I mean everyone is different.  Whatever you are most comfortable with and whatever you enjoy doing will probably be most beneficial to you.  Good luck!