Hardening Your Lower Abs

Yes, an actual training question

As far as I can tell, people have the potential to have 8 abs, don't know the technical names, but the 2 to the bottom, those don't seem to get "hard" from regular ab training. I was told to try those twisting situps, where when u come up u twist to the side. Do those work? Is there anything else that shud help?

[Narkissos]

Originally Posted by Baby Gurl

As far as I can tell, people have the potential to have 8 abs, don't know the technical names, but the 2 to the bottom, those don't seem to get "hard" from regular ab training.

I didn't know you worked out regularly m'lady...

What do you consider 'regular ab training'?

Originally Posted by Baby Gurl

I was told to try those twisting situps, where when u come up u twist to the side.Do those work?

'work' is relative.

Should we propose that it is indeed possible to isolate different facets of the midsection: upper/lower abs; obliques... then the twisting sit-up would primarily stress the upper abs and obliques (the obliques being the muscles on the side of the waist.)

Lower abdominals would be engaged secondarily...statically

To engage and isolate the lower abdominal complex, proposing that such is indeed possible, one would have to examine the role and range-of-motion of the complex.

The role being: hip curling/thrusting.

Thus, you should seek to employ a hip-raising exercise like a laying, hanging, or sitting leg raise.

Or a lower trunk curl.. the basic execution of which would be:

¤lay on back... w/ back pressed firmly into the ground; arms at side; and feet fully extended. (inhale in this position)

¤Curl knees to abdomen

¤At the top of the exercise... use the lower abs to lift the pelvis off the ground. (exhale in this position)

¤Reverse the movement.

I do the leg raises pretty often, they don't seem to "work", at least not for the specific results I want.

I do exercise but its hard to maintain it with my working hours and studies.

In terms of exercises that I think specifically help my abs, leg raises; sit-up (although I not sure sit-ups are key for abs development); my dance instructor calls an exercise we do "cock sits", where u balance ur body in the shape of a v with ur lower legs parallel to the ground for 8 reps, then the lower legs are extended for 8 reps, then the lower legs are extended and opened. Those really work but they also call for balance.

There another one similar to that where ur lower legs are extended but they are barely off the ground and ur back is also barely off the ground, I haven't mastered it yet. The last time I tried it I got horrible menstrual cramps, should that have happened?

I figured u might say u don't exercise specific body parts in isolation but I was hoping there was something u cud do that wud also help me to achive that specific result.

Thanks for the run down

[WidowMaker]

I used to sport an 8pk for many years.
I followed a lot of the ab training protocols that Nark implies.
For the last 5yrs I've put on a few extra pounds which I will confide in my brtoher Nark to help me with, LOL.
For the most part..........
BUMP!!!!!!! for my brother Narks advise on abs.

[Narkissos]

[me=Narkissos]returns to the Bat Cave to comtemplate a solution.[/me]

:laugh:

[chest6]

bah..no matter how lean I get I store fat in my lower stomach...I've contemplated trying to yank it out ;D

Originally Posted by chest6

bah..no matter how lean I get I store fat in my lower stomach...

I totalling understand what u mean, those last 2 abs just seem to enjoy being "fat" no matter how hard the other 4 or 6 are.

[Lynx]

eeerrrr any further advice?

[Narkissos]

bump!

[mairj23]

I like doing the hanging leg raises for the lower abs. You can lye on the floor with your hands under your butt, raise your head, then raise your legs at the same time, works great also. Hit the entire ab area for best results.