Ab exercises - want a flatter stomach

[SRP]

Hi all -
My question is this: how do I get a flatter stomach but still maintain good, strong muscles and at least some definition?

Right now, I have pretty good abs - nothing amazing, but I do have some definition. I do 10-15 mins of various crunches, pikes on the ball, etc. three times a week.

My problem is, when I add muscle, my stomach of course gets a little thicker. I am VERY small up top (practically non-existant ) and I think I would look a little better if I could shrink my waist size a little.

I'm pretty lean (except for the infamous saddle bags), so actual weight loss isn't an issue.

Any ideas of what the best sort of routine and exercises would be?

 

[Fit_mommy]

Hi Shannon.

I have heard that if you work your lats and make them BIGGER that they inturn make your waist appear SMALLER!

 

[pixie9]

I've also heard that the more you work your shoulders, the smaller your waist will appear. Maybe there is some truth to that. In fact, I think i remember Cathe saying something about that on one of the videos.
Carolyn

 

[Maximus]

You might want to try incorporating some pilates into your workout for a longer, leaner look. I work abs twice a week, once with weights & once with pilates. I really have seen a difference. And pilates feels so good!

 

[gogigi]

Larua,
What pilates workouts do you recommend? TIA!
Angela:7

 

[aila212]

I'm with Laura on the pilates The best thing that ever happened to my abs!

 

[Mariela]

Laura and/or Aila... Could you please suggest a good pilates DVD or video? I only have Moira Stott's The Secret to Flat Abs but there is something about it, or about Moira, that I don't like. I did it twice and never went back to it. Perhaps I should give it another try.

 

[elaineyue]

I have to throw in my 2 cents about Pilates, too! I love it! My abs have never been so cut (even though these past few months I haven't been watching my diet too closely). I use the Classical Pilates Matwork about 3x a week. It has routines for beginner, intermediate, advanced, and super advanced. There isn't much instruction on form, however, and it moves quickly, so it's only a good workout if you know correct form. (But once you do, you get a really intense workout because it moves from one exercise to another without pauses.) You could try the Winsor series; I've heard good things about them.

Elaine

 

[SRP]

Okay - can anyone recommend good pilates routines? Do these have to be ordered online, or are there good ones you can actually buy at a store? If they're online, can you provide a website? Thanks!

 

[aila212]

Hi,

I like to purchase all of my pilates dvd's at www.deepdiscountdvd.com. Cheapest on the net IMO! These are the ones I use the most:

*Quick Fix Pilates Abs- Keli Roberts
*MTV Pilates Mix- Kristen Mcgee
*Pilates for Abs- Ana Caban
*Rael system 17 & 27
*Stott- Core Challenge & Strong Streamlined
*Hilary Burnett Inter. & Advanced- Laura doesn't like these

Most of these workouts are intermediate and advanced.

HTH

 

[Mariela]

Thank you.

 

[SRP]

Thanks a lot, Aila!

 

[aila212]

You are very welcome!

 

[Maximus]

I second everything Aila said, since she's the one who recommended them all to me in the first place.

 

[elaineyue]

Also check out www.collagevideo.com. You can find reviews and video clips of some of the workouts Aila mentioned. Then buy it at deepdiscountdvd. It really is the cheapest.