Another Interesting article

[kelliebelly]

I have been searching again for ways to improve my belly after the TT. I know weight loss will help but I want to know work those muscles he repaired.
I came across this article(one of so many) that claim crunches are bad or not what they are suppose to be.
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100144479&GT1=8506

What do you think? Do you think its all cr*p?

[Barb]

I have been searching again for ways to improve my belly after the TT. I know weight loss will help but I want to know work those muscles he repaired.
I came across this article(one of so many) that claim crunches are bad or not what they are suppose to be.
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100144479&GT1=8506

What do you think? Do you think its all cr*p?

Its not that crunches are bad per se, but all they do is strengthen your upper abdominal area. By doing exercises for you lats (sides) you strengthen your core and that in the long run, takes care of other parts of your abdomen. Leg raises (leg straight) works on your lower abs. What I think they are saying is that so many rely on crunches to take care of abs....but its a series of things you need to do. Pilates is one of the best exercises for your "trunk" (abs, lats, butt). LOL I have to dust off my Pilates CD's.

[Jachut]

I think you really need more of a pilates focus, you'll never get that lean look and good posture just from crunches. Even when I was a physio student twenty years ago they knew this, although its only made its way into the public arena in he last decade.

The abdominals contrary to popular belief are not separated into upper and lower, its all one muscle, but they dont have the range of motion people think and quite a small pelvic tilt is adequate to recruit the entire muscle. But you have obliques and transverse muscles etc and have to target those too, as well as your pelvic floor and all the intrinsic muscles of your pelvis and back.

Unfortunately I think it really requires professional instruction to know what you're doing with Pilates, before you go ahead with a video or DVD.

Doug did 8 months of weekly Pilates and it did wonders for him, I was amazed actually, because he has a big gut and really was the only person I know who could literally not do 5 crunches, now he's very strong.