Ab Counter Effect???

[MaryD]

over the last several months I have increased my weight training, cut back on alchohol and sodium, almost doubled my work-out times and most importantly, increased my ab routine. As a result my stomach has actually started to "pooch" more than ever. it has an hourglass looking shape with less definition than before and my entire midsection looks and actually is HUGE. Any tips on how to prevent this from happening and make it go away?

[Cammo]

We don't have enough info.
Increasing workout times & your ab routine will do nothing for your "pooch".
Do you do cardio?
What does your diet consist of?

[MaryD]

I tried lowering the amount of cardio, thinking it was a waste of time. i am beginning to think that was a mistake. i do kickboxing (high intensity) twice a week and a couple other days a week with 30 minutes on the elliptical or bike. Upper body circuit training twice a week and abs and butt three to five days a week. Yoga and Pilates fit in there also. Help! I am totally frustrated and losing momentum thx

Oh yeah- diet? Whole grain, NO MEAT, fish, ALOT of veggies, nuts, cheese- i've been on a "diet" for several years

[hmmm]

whats ur bf%? were u able to see abs before?

Further if your checking ur abs after a ab workout, the blood that gives u a pump will lessen definition.

[MaryD]

I have no idea. I would assume a low percentage. I have been an avid runner, exerciser for a long time and I have always been on the lean side. I could see definition before and I can see it now, from the side. i am very cut on the sides but it is just the middle that has almost become swollen. When I suck in or flex, the bottom half of the abs puckers out. I have always had a layer of fat over the muscles. It's just strange and so defeating. I feel like my butt looks so much better but as a result, my hips and abs have had a counter effect. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

[jennyd]

Hi MaryD,
I'm just taking a stab at some suggestions here, but is it possible that increasing your ab routine is the problem? Sometimes working the abs too much can actually hamper abdomen development. You could be overtraining your abs. The key is the quality of the work, not the quantity of the work.
If this problem is mostly in the lower abdominals, maybe it's the form you're using. Improperly done pilates, or any abdominal exercise, can compress your back and actually cause your abs to stick out, rather than flatten.
With Pilates, if you're pressing the small of your back into the mat, you could be causing compression and engaging the rectus muscle (which is the suface bulging ab muscle).
If you do leg raises, to work your lower abs properly, you should concentrate on raising your pelvis up towards your stomach and force your lower abs to execute the movement. If proper form isn't maintained, your hip flexors can tend to take over and you wouldn't be working your lower abs completely.
Just some suggestions. I'm not saying you're doing anything incorrectly, because I don't know. But I figured that this couldn't hurt.

[Hannainnc]

Originally Posted by MaryD

over the last several months I have increased my weight training, cut back on alchohol and sodium, almost doubled my work-out times and most importantly, increased my ab routine. As a result my stomach has actually started to "pooch" more than ever. it has an hourglass looking shape with less definition than before and my entire midsection looks and actually is HUGE. Any tips on how to prevent this from happening and make it go away?

Bump on what jenny explained....

IMO working abs too often/too much can make them pooch...they are a muscle and when you work it, it gets bigger just like a bicep or quadricep. When doing ab work, be sure to engage your transverse abdominus. This is the layer underneath that works when you "suck it in". If you do abs without working the transverse properly, it can after time cause your abs to pooch.

I really don't think direct ab work is necessary in most cases, not if you have everything else in place.
Good luck!

[MaryD]

Thanks so much to all the responses! I had been considering the fact that I may be doing too much of one area and thus this result. I'm going to try slowing down a bit, although I am really enjoying my new-found wieght training. Also,the part about pressing the small of my back- I think that is key- I had been really focusing on it when doing different things and actually noticed that it made it very difficult to do them correctly. I had tried asking someone at the gym but I don;t think she understood. I feel much better about this and I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again and good luck to yourselves with your goals.

[ktinspired]

i know im a little late on this one but......I had soemone explain it to me like this. If you build the ab muscle in theory they get bigger but if you haven't gotten rid of the fat layer over top then the muscle just pushes the fat out further making it pooch.
(maybe or maybe not)

[MaryD]

Thanks, yeah, I've realized (hoping) that this could be my problem. Gotta work on the layer of fat, less target ab work. Keep 'em coming!