I'm of average build. I'm 5'10 and 170 lbs. For the longest I've been trying to get rid of my soft midsection. The last diet I went on caused me to lose muscle since I weighed about 180 lbs but had the same soft midsection which sadly didn't get any smaller, if anything it looks more prominent. My fat is localized in my midsection and i wouldn't mind shedding it.

Currently I've been trying to eat healthy and do cardio exercise with my exercise bike and rollerblade as often as possible. I've heard that it's a bad idea to do sit ups before you shed the belly fat because the muscles behind it only cause it to stick out further. Is there any truth to this?

Does anyone have any successful methods to shedding a soft midsection without losing any additional muscle mass? Any diet tips, how often you work out a week, your workout routine, etc… anything helps at this point.

Damn those Abs!!
Everyone gains muscle mass differently. No on the sit-ups.
If you are following a good diet and doing cardio daily you should see results soon enough.
Low Carbs, High Protein. and weight training are the best way to increase muscle and loose fat!!!
Belly fat is the hardest to loose, so don't get upset if you don't see results quickly. Find a method that works for you and will have a washboard in no time!!
Good Luck!

I had a c-section 6 months ago. Thanks for your help!

do front crunching about 100 a day and also do backward crunches about 100 a day….and who will start noticing a differnce in 3 days…but you have to do them everyday….dont skip a day…alteast 10-15 mins a day.

I eat reasonable portion meals, including salad 3-4 times a week, and I also do several reps of situps, leg lifts, and planks before I go to sleep, but I'm not seeing a consistant change.

Burn more calories than you eat.

I know to do crunches, the plank, cardio and sit ups to get great abs, but what are some of the other less known ways to tighten up upper, lower, and side abs? PS: can it not be the OBVIOUS answer that I’ve already heard in my question?

an excellent exercise, you can do it in front of your TV: sit on a
stool, and put your toes under something (piece of heavy furniture,
for example). In your hands hold a little dumbbell. Please, make sure
that it is not very heavy, start with one kilo, for example, or you
will damage your back and spine! Slowly move the upper part of your
body back, until it’s parallel with the ground. Stop for a second and
move it back to the sitting position. Repeat ten times. Every week add
to the number of repetitions. You will see the results in a week,
guaranteed! You will see or feel under the fat – if you have any – six
pack and muscles. Dumbbells do wonders. Much better than these crunches – I came up to three hundreds and there was no results AT ALL. With the dumbbells you will see it in a week.

I'm a teenage girl and i'm not looking for a six pack or anything of that sort. i don't have a lot of fat, but i do have a small "muffin top". Are there any simple exercises i can do in my own home ,with lack of equipment, that will get me a flat tight stomach?

Well, with the limited equipment that you have i would say that you're going to have to find a good cardio regiment. yep, good old fashion sweat, at least an hour a day. the area that you are worried about is a problem area for millions. Definitely stick to the cardio and learn how to do crunches or some sort of ab work out that is comfortable for you. Also, you may want to watch your diet……..No sodas, low fat, moderate carbs, and lots of water. Its goona take some time but stik with it. The more you do the easier it will get.

is the ab loungeany good?what do u suggest for tight abs.i have a bad back so crunches on the floor dont work so well for me.annnndddd my mom said she is willing to buy me something to help tightten up my abs that wont hurt my back….so do u think the ab lounge is good for me?

this is gonna sound extremely stupid..but do you know the PS2 game dance dance revolution? Yeah, buy a dancemat and play the game. It has a workout mode. Put in your weight and how many calories you would like to lose (0-1000) and it really really works. Also along with that eat healthily nd your legs nd stomach will look amazing in about 4-5 weeks (depending on how much you want to lose). I don't think the ab lounge is good for you. It helps build muscle, but you need to burn the fat that the muscle is underneath before your tight abs are visible..xx

XxLaurenxX

I have been working out and have to lose about 40 pounds and would like to have my tight abs show through, do you think its possible?

It is possible. I lost 50 lbs. nearly 6 years ago (granted, gained a few lbs. back once my body readjusted). I had no stretchmarks or excess skin.

When I do crunches regularly, in time my abs become tighter. But only my upper abs become (noticeably) tighter. How do I fix this problem? How can I get my mid/lower abs as tight as my upper abs?
ps for the leg lifts, how long do i hold it for?
Thanks a bunch everyone

The upper part of your "abs" (the upper and lower is only one muscle!) isn't a location where fat is predominantly stored. Fat is normally stored just above the waistline, especially in men. The key is to burn fat – not to focus on your ab workouts.

I think the problem here is that a myth has been going around…

You can not burn fat from your midsection by doing ab workouts. That's the bottom line.

What I'm saying is you can do leg lifts to your heart's desire and never get that "tight" look that you're seeking. The key is cardio and total body strength.

Some things that can help is, well obviously some cardio work, regular strength training and, believe it or not, yoga works wonders…

Yoga is great for balance, posture and core stability which works your abs and legs like crazy.

Anyway, no, you can not burn fat from your midsection by doing ab workouts. This is something that has gone through the media and it just is completely false. The key is workout variety, nutrition, and total body fitness. Have you ever seen an individual with floppy arms and legs (an otherwise untoned body) with a six pack? If the answer is "yes", then that person had surgical implants. on top of their subcutaneous fat.

We all have abs, and they're probably tight looking if you've been working them out. The problem is the layer of fat that's sitting on top of them! Lowering your body fat percentage is the only way to get that "six pack" look.

Even if you can't quite get there, don't get discouraged! Only the minority of individuals have the genetics for creating that "washboard look". But, lowering your body fat percentage will give you some definition nonetheless. My advice would be to skimp a little on your ab exercise and focus a bit more on cardio and regular strength training.

Another thing to remember is that your abs are muscles just like any other muscle in your body. Do you work your chest or legs every day? I hope not, so don't work your abs everyday! They need time to rebuild and regroup just like any other muscle. If you work them every day, or even 5 days a week, you're doing too much. You should only be doing them 3-4 times a week, maximum.

Here's some myths on ab exercises…

Hope this helps

Ryan

I would like Tight nice sexy abs in 5 months and also nice tight legs, but I want to do this all in my own home whether it be workout tapes or regular ol things to use around the house.
Help me out please.

cardio cardio cardio
run and tone. by tone i mean light weights or just your body weight. also you have to eat right. your weight has a lot to do with how much excess body fat you have on your stomach. don't make unrealistic goals and be disappointed.
i would run 3 to 4 times a week.
a cardio tape like tae bo on non run days (keep your heart rate up for at least 45 minutes.)
also leg and abb exercises every day ( not to get sore just to work the muscles)
Drink plenty of water watch your calorie intake and lay off the sugar