Abdomen muscles

[KneesUp]

I have one of these

it clips on the door frame of the bedroom with no fixings. I do a few pull ups before the shower. You can also do exercises for your abdomen including pulling up your knees to your chest or lifting your straight legs to 90 degrees to your chest. It works quite well as a press up stand when not attached to the door (easier on the wrist) or you can use it to make one side higher than the other when doing press ups, which helds tone your sides too. Press ups and planking are also excellent for your core, and require no equipment at all.

However, having toned muscles in your abdomen is academic if you can't see them because they are hidden - you need a low body fat percentage to 'see' the muscles - something I've not achieved since my 20s.

 

[Skibird]

I've got the diet in hand as far as I can: I'm eating less, much less than before, and spacing it out better: a small breakfast followed by yoghurt and muesli at work, lunch at work and then a small evening meal. I have little control over lunch and it comes at about 2pm because I'm in a cafe, but the Müsli keeps me going until then and it means I eat less in the evening.

The exercises are as a backup and extra encouragement to my body to get its act together.

You don't have to eat less (unless you are overeating), just more of the right food. Don't ever let yourself go hungry....................it never works!

 

[cuberider]

Another vote for Pilates from me.

 

[mustang1]

A six pack isn’t made in the gym, it’s made in the kitchen.

...by blowing it up .

 

[Andy in Germany]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I have cut down because I was eating too much, and too much of the wrong sort of thing. I have to be careful though because I'm moving about most of the time at work and I can 'bonk' if I don't have enough food. I've also noticed that I tend to get migraines when I've missed a meal by too long.

 

[Katherine]

Pilates for posture, for using your stomach muscles correctly and for general strength and flexibility making other exercise easier .
Also walking is good for trimming the waist.

 

[Globalti]

Posture is key to shirinking that stomach.

 

[Andy in Germany]

If Pilates needs a specialist I'll have to wait until I can afford one.

Maybe walking from the tram to work instead of catching the bus would be a good idea though.

Posture is key to shirinking that stomach.

Posture generally or in exercises?

 

[PK99]

If Pilates needs a specialist I'll have to wait until I can afford one.

?

Many people seem to think that Pilates is some form of technical term - it does after all sound Greek and medical.

In fact it was invented by one Joe Pilates (yes, it's true) and there is very little medical/research evidence as to its effectiveness, essentially it is simply another proprietary exercise class. Properly done they do no harm and are probably of some benefit but are no magic bullet.

(wiki)
For the treatment of lower back pain, low quality evidence suggests that while Pilates is better than doing nothing, it is no more effective than other forms of physical exercise.[16][4] There is some evidence regular sessions can help with the conditioning of the abdominal muscles of healthy people, when compared to doing no exercise.[7] There is no good evidence it helps improve balance in elderly people.[5]

 

[Globalti]

If Pilates needs a specialist I'll have to wait until I can afford one.

Maybe walking from the tram to work instead of catching the bus would be a good idea though.



Posture generally or in exercises?

Posture generally. Everybody can give themselves a gut if they slouch, but standing straight and tall expands the ribcage and pulls in the stomach. It's a difficult habit to acquire but worth persisting. Oh and cut down on beer because it's ful of carbs and alcohol gives older men boobs by suppressing the little remaining testosterone, allowing estrogen to preponderate.

 

[Spoons47]

Walking, walking,walking while squeezing your gluteus and holding in you stomach like your trying to get your belly button to touch your spine. Keep a fast pace just so your sweating a bit. I combined this with a strict low Carb diet and lost 3 and half stone. Went from almost a 36 waist to a 32 and now thanks to the cycling keeping it off nicely. Another vote for Planks and keeping your back straight whenever you can.
I’m 54 and don’t have Moobs so that will do for me lol

 

[Andy in Germany]

Walking, walking,walking while squeezing your gluteus and holding in you stomach like your trying to get your belly button to touch your spine. Keep a fast pace just so your sweating a bit. I combined this with a strict low Carb diet and lost 3 and half stone. Went from almost a 36 waist to a 32 and now thanks to the cycling keeping it off nicely. Another vote for Planks and keeping your back straight whenever you can.
I’m 54 and don’t have Moobs so that will do for me lol

Fair enough, now of to look up Planks (snigger) and 'Gluteus'

Also thanks to you an @Globalti for the encouragement to keep my back straight: I started but got discouraged and went back to my hereditary slouch...

...cut down on beer because it's ful of carbs and alcohol gives older men boobs by suppressing the little remaining testosterone, allowing estrogen to preponderate.

Don't drink the stuff so that's one thing less to worry about.

 

[si_c]

Maybe walking from the tram to work instead of catching the bus would be a good idea though.

More walking is a great way to battle bulge, but won't do a significant amount for your core. For strength/core exercises, this is what British Cycling recommend.

 

[Julia9054]

More walking is a great way to battle bulge, but won't do a significant amount for your core. For strength/core exercises, this is what British Cycling recommend.

This looks useful. What size of kettle bell would be recommended for a small, female beginner with legs made of concrete and an upper body made of marshmallows!

 

[si_c]

This looks useful. What size of kettle bell would be recommended for a small, female beginner with legs made of concrete and an upper body made of marshmallows!

I dunno, probably the same one that I should be using, as a beginner male with legs of concrete and an upper body made of marshmallow and pipecleaners.