There's no such thing as spot fat burning, but what do you think of this?

Question

I was always told that trying to hit certain areas when you workout is not going to burn fat alone, you have to do lots of cardio. Okay, I'm not a fat person but I have fat around the stomach area (baby gut), now I do lots of cardio. I stopped doing ab exercises because if I do cardio then in time the ab muscles will reveal themselves because they're already underneath the fat. Is this the correct way of going about it, or should I still do some ab exercises? I workout every area of my body but the stomach. I still have the fat around that area but I do cardio a lot. Add the ab exercises back to the workout or not?

Answer 1

Absolutely do the ab exercises. Abs are very important muscles to your overall appearance and posture.

When you see me and others bashing ab workouts, its not because they're not worthwhile, its just that the 'great unwashed' put excess importance on them (and ignore the other muscle groups) for all the wrong reasons.

Look around the posts in this category. You see large numbers of people doing crunches and situps by the hundreds - but nothing else. Just as you need a balanced diet, you need a balanced workout regimen.

Answer 2

actually spot reduction is possible to a degree. Research has shown that the temp of surrounding tissues of an exercised muscle becomes elevated and that additional heat applied to the same area will keep the tissue temp higher providing a slight thermogenic effect to the affected area. However you have to be prepared to do lots of reps - up to 250 crunches per session for abdominals followed by wearing a sauna belt for 30 minutes. The other component to this regimen is fasted cardio. Fasted cardio will burn an extra 5 to 6g of fat per session and if you combine it with some caffeine that number will be a little higher. While it may not seem like much, this can really add up.

Answer 3

You should add the ab exercises just not to many. Remember, ab exercises make your belly bigger too. To much muscle in the stomach region will make you look fatter. I suggest losing the weight and then building the stomach muscles. Definately do them now. If you are taking muscle building supplements keep an eye on it. Perfection

Answer 4

It's a good idea to work out your entire body to help your abs. It's true spot fat burning doesn't work. It's an all over body thing. Sit ups will help you. What you DON'T want to happen, is working out your muscles under the fat, and then not getting the fat to go away, then you'll be strong and "fit" but no one will notice or see. Which is what you want, im assuming. Work out your entire body, and eat RIGHT.

Answer 5

Great insight on how that works! My only suggestion is to continue doing moderate ab exercise so that the muscle that are already there will stay toned.

Answer 6

there's no such thing as spot fat burning, but there is spot muscle toning/strengthening. do your cardio first to oxygenate your muscles and help burn fat. then do your strength training. doing ab exercises will help tone those muscles or keep them toned.

Answer 7

that is a fantasy.... once you lose fat you lose all of it over your body no longer purely a million section. Your genetics make sure the position you'll lose fat first, maximum persons will lose fat on their abdomen area very last. And keep in concepts the decision one thanks to lose fat is with the help of adjusting your eating routine, cardio does no longer advise **** in case your purely eating white bread And pasta, entire wheat and lean meat is the foremost

Answer 8

if you aren't performing any power movements in your resistance training then you need to directly stimulate your core somehow. if you are using bodyweight only abdominal training exercises there will not much growth so stick with those types