Work It Out
- About Work It Out
- Work It Out
- Talk
Awesome Abs
500 crunches and still no six-pack....Kevin explains why you
can do 1,000 a day and it wouldn't help!
By Kevin Valluzzi
I hear it every time I'm with a client: "What about abs? When are we going to do crunches? I want to get rid of this," and then they point to their stomachs. This mind-set is an absolute result of the misinformation that infomercials have shoved down your throat. Ab-rollers, thigh shapers, etc.--it doesn't matter what you call them, they won't do what they promise to do. All of these devices lead you to believe that by using them over and over again you will burn fat in a specific, targeted area. This is better known as spot reduction. The truth is that this just doesn't happen. If you are 20 pounds overweight--with all of that extra weight covering your abs--you can do crunches until you are blue in the face; it won't get rid of the fat.
First you need to decide if you want to lose fat--no matter where on your body the fat may be. Then you need to focus on full-body strength-training routines, using free weights and body-weight exercises, interval-style cardio workouts, and proper nutrition (which would be eating five to six small meals throughout the day). This is what my new e-book, Busy Woman Fitness, is all about. When it comes to weight loss and fat loss, it all boils down to getting your body to be an efficient calorie-burning machine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will never realize that by wasting your time doing crunches or muscle-specific exercises.
I'll say it one more time; Train the whole body, use free weights and/or your body weight, do intervals during your cardio, and eat five to six times a day. That is a sure-fire recipe for fat loss, and you just might be able to see that six-pack.
Can you give me advise regarding, trying to lose weight with hypothyroid. Seeking help from anyone that suffers from this long hill battle.
Hi double00821,
I am certainly not an expert with hypothyroidism but I do know that nutritionally eating a low fat, low carbohydrate, protein sufficient diet is what you should be doing. Limit your intake of sugar and starches, cutting back on pasta, rice, potatoes, white flour breads, cereal, corn, peas, sweet potatoes, desserts, dairy products, meats, and fruit with a high sugar content.
As for exercise, stick with the interval training and circuit training workouts I've discussed in my previous blogs.
And if you are looking for more detailed information, there is a book by Mary Shomon entitled, "The Thyroid Diet: Manage your metabolism for lasting weight loss. I hear that's pretty good.
I hope this helps.
Kevin Valluzzi
I am not considered "overweight" I do feel however I need to tighten and tone badly. I feel like I have hit a plateau. I can not loose or tighten anything right now. I am struggling!
Hi aaronsamour,
It would be hard for me to give advice considering I don't know waht you've been doing in terms of exercising and eating. My first question is are you doing any strength training and if so are you pushing yourself hard or just going through the motions?
For those of your reading Kevin's articles and perhaps wanting to believe 'eat more, & lose weight' and/or 'work out in half the time, & lose weight' - FANTASTIC - sign me up! BUT still perhaps doubting it somewhat ... I encourage you to truly (and be honest with yourself) give it a chance, a real chance, not a few days or even a week, whether it's through his full ebook workout plan or that of applying his weekly tips into your daily routine, even if only minor changes happen, they will happen! Than you'll want to push yourself to the next level, that's normally what motivates me to keep going!
I am a close personal friend of Kevin, his wife is my best friend and for the record, no he didn't ask me to write this blog, but he'll get my fee later - JK Kev :-). We talk about all these topics often, I'd say to often for his liking but I'm not sure that you'll every come across anyone more passionate, dedicated and truly lives the example of what he's sharing with you, than Kevin - you're in good hands!
Although I am not the "perfect" role-model when it comes to diet and exercise since I often blame breaking out of the routine of it all on not having the time (which I am well aware, is just me being lazy, as am sure many of you can relate to) ...I have to say, in the past year moving beyond listening to Kevin, to applying what he shares and although I still have some work (workouts that is) ahead of me (again I'm to blame) to get to my ideal ... I do and feel such a big difference when I practice/live the life style changes he shares. Even if I only do 20 minutes on my treadmill but follow the intervals for a more affective workout or the days I actually eat 5-6 times a day vs. the days I just eat dinner ... I FEEL GREAT and do see and feel such a difference, physically and mentally. Give it a shot, accept the weight that you may want to, you have nothing to lose! Best of luck to you all!
Most Sincerely,
Christie
Ps. I also don't own a scale anymore thanks to Kevin, and I'm still confident in sharing the testiment that it works!
whats the best way to loose weight after a (meaning 3) pregnancies withing the last five years?
Hey Christie,
Thanks so much for such kind words. I'm glad I am able to help out as much as I can. Just don't ask me for any more information!! Just kidding. I am always happy to talk fitness/weight loss with you anytime.
Always keep the questions coming!!
Kevin
Hi cassydy 87,
3 pregnancies in 5 years--congratulations, that's great.
As for losing weight, your situation is no dfferent from someone who gained weight by eating bon bons 24/7 for 5 years!
What I mean is that losing weight is losing weight no matter how it was gained. Definitely start strength training and doing some intervals during your cardio sessions. combine that with eating 5 to 6 meals throughout the day and you will be set.
Refer back to all of my other blogs on here to get more detailed information on the working out and eating that I just mentioned. And let me know if I can help you with any of it. If you want an actual plan to follow, check out my Busy Woman Fitness e-book at www.BusyWomanFitness.com.
Good Luck cassydy87,
Kevin
Can you work on your abs daily? I know your other muscles need rest when you weight train so I didn't know if the same thing applied to your ab workout.
Hi Becky,
Great question. It is not necessary to work on your abs daily. Treat them like any other muscle group and allow for some rest. In fact, if you are doing bodyweight/free weight exercises during your strength training sessions, your abs will be getting plenty of work.
One more tip, skip the "crunches" (if that's what you mean by ab work) and do some planks. They have been shown to be much better than crunches.
Kevin