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Junior Member
Hey the last year got a little out of hand with soda pop and I found myself drinking on average of 3 cans a day! I was in mediocre shape, not over weight but not fit either. My stomach started expanded and that was pretty much it. I haven't had a soda in 2 months and I don't plan to for awhile yet.
So while I stopped my midsection from expanding, I haven't got it to shrink yet. I've been using the exercise program a bit and My legs and arms are getting in pretty good shape I still have a gut/pot belly. What exercise routines/programs would you guys recommend for me to target this area specifically? Any help would be appreciated thanks!
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Junior Member
I do at least 150 crunches a day.
I do 25 typical crunches, 25 lateral crunches (left elbow to right raised knee) and 25 more on the other side, 25 knee raise crunches (torso and knees crunch together in a fetal position) and 25 side crunches on each side (lay on side simultaneously lift knees toward ceiling and lift upper body).
I have been know to repeat this and do 300 a day, but usually tend to stick to the one set.
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Junior Member
Hello Friend,
While sit-ups will tighten up the abdomen, it is cardio that will burn the fat in and around your belly. Another tip would be to cut way down on CARBS. (Rice, Potatoes, French Fries, and Pasta)Do some research on the Zig Zag eating or CARB cycling. Recap:: 1. Watch what you eat, 2. Add lots of CARDIO to your exercise routine, 3. consistency.
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Junior Member
Thanks for the tips! I think cutting down on carbs is whats holding me out from that I do around 60 minutes of cardio a day now and while its helping I think its my diet that's holding me back.
Thanks again!
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Member
I am afraid it is a myth that you can do particular exercises that trim your stomach, hips, et cetera.
Doing exercises that target particular parts of the body will develop muscle in those regions. They will not miraculously burn the fat away.
However, doing exercise will burn calories and if the amount of calories you take in are less than your body requires then it will retrieve energy from your fat and muscles.
This is one of the reasons why exercising is important along with changing your diet, as your body will burn fat and muscles when you reduce the amount of calories you consume each day. So if you're not developing muscle at the same time your body is converting it back to energy then both your body fat and muscle will reduce. Having said that, the body is more likely to give up energy stored in fat than muscles, but they are not immune, and if you're "starving" yourself then your body will adapt to help you "survive".
It is also important to eat regularly, and whereas simply cutting carbs has the effect of causing weight loss, you are not doing your body any good. It is better to consume complex carbs (wholemeal breads, rice, pasta). These take longer to digest so they are converted into glucose at a slower rate than simple carbs (white breads, potatoes, and other starchy food groups) and will do a better job of matching your body requirements with the amount of calories you consume.
If you're exercising it is important to keep your protein levels up as these are necessary to develop muscles. Also if you simply reduce the amount of calories you consume you will cause your metabolism to stall as your body goes into a kind of "starvation alert".
Bottom line... eating the right amount of right stuff regularly, along with exercise, is the only way to obtain and maintain a healthy body.
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Junior Member
Wow Thanks for the reply laying things out an explaining them. I really do appreciate it. I have shifted my diet over. I'm not doing the whole starving to death thing, but I'm cutting soda pop out completely as well as not not randomly snacking while watching TV.
I have been focusing on Cardio exercises to help reduce weight with some muscle exercises every other day to look better once I lose the weight.
I'm about 6 feet tall and I weight about 190 pounds so I got a bit more to go. Thanks the help everyone so far!
