LEG LIFTS or SIT UPS.......?

Question

what exercises shrink your tummy and cause you to lose weight instead of gaining weight
i dont want to gain muscle
i want to lose fat
and can you get a six pack from just losing fat
i dont want to be buff
just toned

i dont want to gain weight
by buff i mean like bodybuilders
all i want is a six pack by losing weight

Answer 1

'Spot reducing' (ie - losing weight from a specific place on your body) is a myth, though a widely held myth. Each body stores fat a little differently and when you lose weight you lose fat from all over your body.

The best way to lose fat is to SLOWLY decrease your caloric intake (and substitute healthy foods for unhealthy ones - you know which ones I'm talking about) and SLOWLY increase your activity level.

Aerobic exercise (where you elevate and sustain your heart rate) such as walking, hiking, running, swimming and x-country skiing is the most effective for weight loss but really any regular exercise is good.

I've been an exercise consultant and people have often asked me "what's the best exercise" and I almost always reply with: "the best exercise is one that you will do"

(ie - its more important to find something you like and that fits your daily schedule and you will stick with rather than finding the best or most effective exercise in theory but gets ignored in practice)

As far as leg lifts or sit-ups, leg lifts work a little on your lower abs but mostly work your hip flexors. There are many many good exercises for your abs and while core strength is an important factor in overall fitness its not the best way to lose extra weight.

Answer 2

I don't think the leg lifts will do what sit ups do for your abs.Squats are really good for the legs, making sure all the weight is in your heels and that you do them like your sitting in a chair only no chair. Most of my exercise videos do squats for the legs, just have to watch the knees that they don't go out over the toes. Another good exercise for both is when you lay on your side and bring your leg in and bring yourself up into a side crunch as you bring that leg in and then straighten the arm and leg out and bring in as you crunch again, that is good for the legs and the obliques together.

Answer 3

Exercise has no direct effect on fat. It works muscles. You can do crunches all day long, and it will do nothing whatever to the fat overlaying your abs.

Fat is stored fuel. If you eat less than you need to fuel daily activities, your body turns to to stored fat to make up the fuel shortage. Exercise helps this process by increasing your daily fuel requirements.

For weight loss purposes, the big three aerobic exercises are best: running, cycling, swimming.

REPEAT: Exercises targeting a specific area have NO EFFECT on the fat in that area. Fat is used up more or less evenly from wherever it happens to be.

Answer 4

Both work your tummy muscles, but different parts. (Leg lifts are more for lower and situps are more for upper). If you want to be tone, the BEST thing to do is cardio. Gaining muscle will burn fat, but as you dont want to gain muscle mass, diet and cardio will help you reach your goals. Good luck (I am trying to get the same as you too! :D your not alone)

Answer 5

leg lifts work your abs & sit up just do your lower abs but both make you get abs after a while. do leg lifts like every other day or just like 3 days a week so you'll lose your fat & be toned but not athletic-looking toned

Answer 6

do both to tone your muscles but your muscles will never show thru and give you the look of a six pack until your body fat percentage goes down so cardio is the key to make your muscles show thru your skin

Answer 7

leg lifts are good for that also walk 5 miles a day

Answer 8

limit calorie intake and do aerobic exercise (running, swimming, etc)

Losing fat will "buff you" but a few situps never hurt.

Answer 9

do both :p