I have been doing a lot of exercise lately including tons of situps (almost 100/day) and running hard 1-2 miles 2-3 times a week. I'm trying to get rid of a layer of fat on my stomach but all the situps seem to do is make my abs really strong and push the fat out more :P I've been "in shape" for a couple years now and I'm a 24 year old Male, 5'8" @170lbs. Do situps REALLY help get rid of belly fat or do they just happen to be muscles that are in the same area as the fat??? I think I have a six-pack, but I just can't see it! Also, the muscles between my abs and my pecks are huge and I'm not really sure what's going on with that :)
2006-11-11 11:32:11 · 6 answers · asked by Steve K 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
Oh yeah - I've dropped my calorie intake by 250-500/day as well. I'm starting to see some results but progress seems to be slow.
2006-11-11 11:33:44 · update #1
nope sit ups DO NOT GET RID OF BELLY FAT, they do what you said, they make your abs hard as a rock and strong but the layer of fat on top will only go away with running (how you been doing) and jump rope and any other cardiovascular exercise you do. Then when the fat is gone your abs will be able to be seen because they are already there!
2006-11-11 11:42:34 · answer #1 · answered by Esme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no spot reducing. You have to lose fat, it will gradually show your abs, too. Do not run hard, run at a moderate pace for up to 7 miles at a time. If you have a pulse monitor try to be in the 130- 150 bpm. Abs are a muscle, in order to have strong muscles you have to train them by adding resistance. Otherwise you would see immense thigh mass with long distance runners. Cardio work and sensible diet gets rid of the fat and resistance training gets the abs in shape. Situps can not do the job alone. Also it sounds as if you should concentrate on your lower abs. Try leg raises instead of situps. Crunches are good, too.
2006-11-11 11:51:35 · answer #2 · answered by Goswin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. As you alluded to they're just muscles that are in the same area as the fat. Some people say that ab exercises can firm up the area after the surrounding fat is lost, but even the degree to which that can happen is thoroughly exaggerated.
In fact, doing squats will technically go much farther towards a 6-pack than situps ever would. They build more muscle which increases metabolism, and low bodyfat is the key to seeing abs.
2006-11-11 11:42:54 · answer #3 · answered by tmanx1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.
sit ups just build muscle, the only way to burn fat is to do cardio.
maybe you should try some different exercises like biking, hiking or rollerblading for awhile and see if you notice a difference. you may have hit a plateau and need a change of routine to get things moving again.
2006-11-11 11:42:18 · answer #4 · answered by Gingersnap 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.....though situps certainly help....you need to lose the fat...and cutting down on calorie intake like you are doing is fine.
Do some sort of cardio exersize
2006-11-11 11:41:35 · answer #5 · answered by kissmybum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋