Working the abs

[zibbler]

Can anyone suggest an ab routine that won't injure my back? I absolutely hate working my abs, but they really need it. The problem is I have virtually no strength in my abs to begin with (due to 3 c-sections) and I have a bad back. I need to do something though, cuz I look like I'm getting a beer gut, and I rarely ever drink beer! :mad:

Plain old crunches only seem to target the upper abs. I need something that hits the lower abs, yet doesn't affect my back.

[Tenchiro]

http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/ruttenclan/ab.jpg

Ab roller baby! :monkey:

[Captain Cogset]

I don' know about that Ab Roller thing, it probably wouldn't be good for someone with an injured back.

Try is site :http://www.thepumpingstation.com/abdominal_tips.html The lying leg lifts are what I do for lower abs. You can also hold a weighted medine ball between your ankles while doing the leg lifts if you want to make them harder.

[Roasted]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/ruttenclan/ab.jpg

Ab roller baby! :monkey:

That thing brutalized my back. It puts you back at a very strained position (at least in my case)

Zibbler have you ever tried an ab ball, euro ball whatever they are called. They support the back while allowing for a full stretch of your abdominals. I find my back is fully supported and the workout kicks ass, in fact I do almost my whole workout on the ball and very rarely need a bench anymore.

Either that or suspended abs workout remove the strain as well.

[Tenchiro]

I was joking about the Ab-roller BTW Hence the :monkey:

[zibbler]

Originally posted by Roasted
That thing brutalized my back. It puts you back at a very strained position (at least in my case)

Zibbler have you ever tried an ab ball, euro ball whatever they are called. They support the back while allowing for a full stretch of your abdominals. I find my back is fully supported and the workout kicks ass, in fact I do almost my whole workout on the ball and very rarely need a bench anymore.

Either that or suspended abs workout remove the strain as well.

Yeah, I've been looking into those excsercise ball thingies. Wasn't sure if it would hurt my back or not. I may just give one of those a try. Thanks.

[Roasted]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
I was joking about the Ab-roller BTW Hence the :monkey:

Ahh sorry didn't catch the monkey...just saw the thing and remembered the shearing pain :D

[zibbler]

Originally posted by Roasted
That thing brutalized my back. It puts you back at a very strained position (at least in my case)


Not to mention your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. :dead: I've never wanted to try one of those gadgets. They looked too painful to use.

[Heidi]

Zibbler - I've said this before...I love using my fitball - no back pain.

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by zibbler
Not to mention your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. :dead: I've never wanted to try one of those gadgets. They looked too painful to use.

I tried one of those gizmos and the damn thing gave me lower back pain for a week.

Zibbs, you know that you can work your abs until you're blue in the face, but you will never see them unless you get your diet in check.

Hanging leg raises are kind to the back.

EDIT: I am referring to hanging leg raises performed using a bench with a back, specific to this exercise.

[BMXman]

Originally posted by I Are Baboon

Hanging leg raises are kind to the back.

EDIT: I am referring to hanging leg raises performed using a bench with a back, specific to this exercise.
I jsut started doing them and I really feel the burn after but it's to soon to see results...I will say that they are easy on my back though......D

[Dog Welder]

Originally posted by Acadian
this is not a joke....


go out and buy "ABS of Steel". I used to laugh at my girlfriend when she did them...until I tried it out for myself one day! :eek: I did that tape for like 2 years...every other night. Simply do one program (takes like 15-20min) with each workout..the tape has 3-4 program. Once your are done, rewind and start again.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303182232.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Damn! That's one hellava bikini wax job!:eek:

[zibbler]

Originally posted by Acadian
this is not a joke....


go out and buy "ABS of Steel". I used to laugh at my girlfriend when she did them...until I tried it out for myself one day! :eek: I did that tape for like 2 years...every other night. Simply do one program (takes like 15-20min) with each workout..the tape has 3-4 program. Once your are done, rewind and start again.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303182232.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Hmmmm.... Amazon has great reviews for that video, but they don't stock it. Seems no one else does either. :angry: I did a variation of crunches today that seemed to work real well and didn't hurt my back. I laid on the floor with my legs resting on the recliner/rocker. When I did the crunch, I dug my heels into the rocker and pulled down as I was crunching the upper body. This hit the lower and upper abs real well. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow. :dead:

[bbmj]

one thing you should do, and do about 4 times a week is pulldown abs, take a pulldown machine, attach a tricep pushdown strap, and bring it to the back of your neck, then pull the tricep strap down by swinging forward and then down, and at the bottom you should almost be in a deadlift position. also for your low back pullthoughs, take a low pulley, two handles, take the handles between your legs, and stand facing away from weight stack, let the weights pull your arms between your legs, and then contract abs, glutes and hams to return to origional position, will help back pain, also goodmornings are a good exercise. all these will work and really give you a strong back and abs, for some more ideas, go to elitefts.com, and click on the articles link, look for a article called torso trainng, some great ideas there.
charlie t