Sucking in your gut and butt during workout? Huh?

Question

I keep hearing that- sucking in while you workout? WHY?

Answer 1

Well, if you adhere to the philosophies of pilates, your core -- that is, your abs, lower back, and obliques -- are the center of your body and the powerhouse of your workouts. Hence, if you "engage your core" (that is, tense your abs and draw your belly button in to your spine while still breathing), you will more directly power your body for a particular exercise. As a trainer, I can tell you that the abs do stabilize your body for most exercises, so tensing them while you train (not sucking them in -- it isn't about holding your breath) does help with most movements.

Haven't heard the same about sucking in one's butt. You "can" engage the glutes, too, and they do tie into the lower back, so tensing them too will help with stabilization and balance.

Answer 2

In one of the Dr. Oz books- I think the Waist Management book- he recommends sucking in the gut when doing crunches, because if you push out your gut when you exercise then thats how your muscles will grow.
When you exercise, you muscles are torn, and replaced with basically scar tissue that builds up over time, this is good and normal. If you move your muscles a certain way, then they will tear a certain way, and be built up accordingly.

I don't know if "sucking in" your butt helps, because if I "suck in" my butt, it looks very flat and ugly. If the same rules apply to the butt then I'd stick it out.

Answer 3

Pulling in your stomach (do not hold your breath) helps by activating the transverse abdominals and internal obliques. Activating these muscles increases the inner abdominal pressure which pushes up on the diaphragm and takes a great deal of the loads off your spine. This is effective for maintaining proper posture and for protecting your lower back.

Tucking your hips under (pulling in your butt) provides no benefit.

Here is an article about protecting the lower back (it explains it).
http://www.spartafit.com/articles/protecting%20the%20lower%20back.php

Answer 4

I've never heard of that. Check out these sites for great diet and exercise tips:

http://fitnesstipswired.blogspot.com/

http://toningupfast.blogspot.com/

Hope it helps!!!

Answer 5

you want to activate those muscle groups while you exercise to gain greater benefits and to use proper form.

Answer 6

it helps tone those muscles and helps with balance. it's hard for me to exercise and remember to hold in muscles.

Answer 7

huh?? never heard that one before. Unusual!! hmm?

Answer 8

tightens your abs