Active Low-Carber Forums
Atkins diet and low carb discussion provided free for information only, not as medical advice.
Home Plans Tips Recipes Tools Stories Studies Products
Active Low-Carber Forums
A sugar-free zone


Welcome to the Active Low-Carber Forums.
Support for Atkins diet, Protein Power, Neanderthin (Paleo Diet), CAD/CALP, Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution and any other healthy low-carb diet or plan, all are welcome in our lowcarb community. Forget starvation and fad diets -- join the healthy eating crowd! You may register by clicking here, it's free!

Go Back   Active Low-Carber Forums > Main Low-Carb Diets Forums & Support > Exercise Forums: Active Low-Carbers > Beginner/Low Intensity
User Name
Password
FAQ Members Calendar Mark Forums Read Search Gallery My P.L.A.N. Survey


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   ^
Old Fri, Feb-15-08, 21:36
ChubbyDiva ChubbyDiva is offline
New Member
Posts: 22
 
Plan: Modified South Beach
Stats: 312/279/199 Female 5 feet, 8 inches
BF:
Progress: 29%
Default Does Holding Your Stomach In Help?

Probably a silly question...but I have had a couple of exercise teachers tell me that if I get into the habit of holding my stomach/abdominals in consciously throughout the day, then it will eventually tighten up and stay in naturally. Anyone else heard this? Or were they just adding to our torture?!
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2   ^
Old Sat, Feb-16-08, 00:25
Ameera Ameera is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 84
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 174/166/133 Female 161cms
BF:
Progress: 20%
Default

As far as I know,we can hold the abdominal muscles in for a few seconds but not constantly.Hold them then relax for a while,that will cause the muscles to tighten and eventually stay in
Reply With Quote
  #3   ^
Old Sat, Feb-16-08, 09:55
Gostrydr Gostrydr is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,175
 
Plan: close to zero carbs
Stats: 225/206/210 Male 73
BF:
Progress:
Default

What you should do is familiarize yourself on the techinque of the "Vaccum" and do that throughout the day.

It will tighten the viscera and can make your waist smaller.and you can do it anywhere anytime.
Reply With Quote
  #4   ^
Old Sat, Feb-16-08, 10:24
Sandollar's Avatar
Sandollar Sandollar is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 3,506
 
Plan: LC w/o "counting" carbs.
Stats: 320/259/185 Female 5'8"
BF:
Progress: 45%
Location: Vancouver Island
Default

If anything, it will help your posture!

In school, I always could do more sit-ups than anybody else...even though I was fat. I attributed it to the fact that I was always holding my tummy in.
Reply With Quote
  #5   ^
Old Sun, Feb-17-08, 15:34
ElleH ElleH is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 10,352
 
Plan: PP/Atkins Maintenance
Stats: 178/137/137 Female 5'6"
BF:28%
Progress: 100%
Location: Northern Virginia
Default

Yes, I do believe that keeping the abs tight at a low level (obviously one cannot do a vacuum constantly, but you can hold them slightly tightened) will help you remember to keep them tight. Denise Austin refers to it as "zipping up," I believe. I was always in the habit of tightening up my abs when I was younger...I even had them tightened when I was pregnant! My tummy went back flat pretty darn quick! I second those vacuums as an absolutely amazing exercise! No body remembers to exercise that, always concentrating on the upper, lower, and obliques. I can't remember the name of that muscle (transverse abdominus, maybe?) that actually holds the viscera in place. Very underworked in most people. Do them every time you think about it for a few seconds.
Reply With Quote
  #6   ^
Old Mon, Feb-18-08, 02:25
dane's Avatar
dane dane is offline
muscle bound
Posts: 3,535
 
Plan: Lyle's PSMF
Stats: 226/150/135 Female 5'7.5"
BF:46/20/sliced
Progress: 84%
Location: near Budapest, Hungary
Default

Yup, the transverse. Think pulling your belly button in towards your spine. I do them--I think they help, esp. if you've had babies.
Reply With Quote
  #7   ^
Old Mon, Feb-18-08, 04:18
carlh_uk's Avatar
carlh_uk carlh_uk is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 247
 
Plan: Carb cycling
Stats: 225/164/155 Male 5'8
BF:~15%
Progress: 87%
Location: England, UK
Default

As the other have said this will help, but the results wont be significant. A few extra calories burned and a bit of toning on your abdominal muscles, but dont expect miracles!
Reply With Quote
  #8   ^
Old Fri, Feb-22-08, 19:03
oakdryad's Avatar
oakdryad oakdryad is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 863
 
Plan: Atkins-ish/IF-ish
Stats: 385/278/180 Female 5'10"
BF:something, maybe
Progress: 52%
Location: MN
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gostrydr
What you should do is familiarize yourself on the techinque of the "Vaccum" and do that throughout the day.

It will tighten the viscera and can make your waist smaller.and you can do it anywhere anytime.


OK, so what's the vacuum technique? Is is where you breathe out as much as possible, exhaling from your abdomen, then holding the exhale for a count of *whatever* while tightening the abs, then releasing the *vacuum*? I've done that off and on for several years (OK, more off than on), and I can feel the pull in the abs.

I did a search, and apparently didn't find the right keywords, cause I got nada.

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #9   ^
Old Mon, Feb-25-08, 06:56
galatia's Avatar
galatia galatia is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 13,640
 
Plan: low carb
Stats: 173/135.8/130 Female 5'4"
BF:
Progress: 87%
Location: Mississippi
Default

Reply With Quote
  #10   ^
Old Mon, Feb-25-08, 16:23
Gostrydr Gostrydr is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,175
 
Plan: close to zero carbs
Stats: 225/206/210 Male 73
BF:
Progress:
Default

wow good article Galatia..that is one of my boys John Defendis.he was a psycho trainer.. up to 60 sets per bodypart per session!!!!

He and Steve Michalik invented the "intensity or insanity" training system..balls to the wall for 40-70 sets per bodypart

I might suggest a carb replacment drink after that routine...just kidding Dane!
Reply With Quote
  #11   ^
Old Tue, Feb-26-08, 09:37
dane's Avatar
dane dane is offline
muscle bound
Posts: 3,535
 
Plan: Lyle's PSMF
Stats: 226/150/135 Female 5'7.5"
BF:46/20/sliced
Progress: 84%
Location: near Budapest, Hungary
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gostrydr
wow good article Galatia..that is one of my boys John Defendis.he was a psycho trainer.. up to 60 sets per bodypart per session!!!!

He and Steve Michalik invented the "intensity or insanity" training system..balls to the wall for 40-70 sets per bodypart

I might suggest a carb replacment drink after that routine...just kidding Dane!

HA!

That made me LOL for realz.
Reply With Quote
  #12   ^
Old Tue, Feb-26-08, 17:35
oakdryad's Avatar
oakdryad oakdryad is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 863
 
Plan: Atkins-ish/IF-ish
Stats: 385/278/180 Female 5'10"
BF:something, maybe
Progress: 52%
Location: MN
Default

Thank you, Galatia. That article really helped. Yup, that's pretty much what I've been doing...except that I've only been holding the vacuum for about 10 seconds per rep. I guess I've got a goal to work towards now.
Reply With Quote
  #13   ^
Old Tue, Feb-26-08, 20:14
eshapard's Avatar
eshapard eshapard is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 37
 
Plan: Ketogenic
Stats: 220/195/185 Male 6 feet 2 inches
BF:
Progress: 71%
Location: San Diego, Ca. USA
Default

No, it will not help. Your muscles will not "tighten up" and stay that way. Skeletal muscles don't work that way.
Reply With Quote
  #14   ^
Old Wed, Feb-27-08, 11:29
ChubbyDiva ChubbyDiva is offline
New Member
Posts: 22
 
Plan: Modified South Beach
Stats: 312/279/199 Female 5 feet, 8 inches
BF:
Progress: 29%
Default

Thanks for the article. I was really encouraged until I got to the part that says:

"This is exciting news, but it does come along with some pre-requisites which are pre-established clean eating habits, adequate water intake, and a low to moderate bodyfat percentage. Depending on how you hold your weight, anywhere from 12 to 15% and less is acceptable...."

That pretty much dashed all my hopes. Thanks anyway, though...I guess I will just have to learn to love my pouchy tummy when I lose the weight.
Reply With Quote
  #15   ^
Old Sat, Mar-01-08, 08:01
oakdryad's Avatar
oakdryad oakdryad is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 863
 
Plan: Atkins-ish/IF-ish
Stats: 385/278/180 Female 5'10"
BF:something, maybe
Progress: 52%
Location: MN
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChubbyDiva
Thanks for the article. I was really encouraged until I got to the part that says:

"This is exciting news, but it does come along with some pre-requisites which are pre-established clean eating habits, adequate water intake, and a low to moderate bodyfat percentage. Depending on how you hold your weight, anywhere from 12 to 15% and less is acceptable...."

That pretty much dashed all my hopes. Thanks anyway, though...I guess I will just have to learn to love my pouchy tummy when I lose the weight.


Yeah, that kind of threw me too. However, I've been doing the vacuum thingie for a few days now and find that I can FEEL the transverse muscle after I do them. I think that even if you don't have the uber-low body fat, doing these vacuums to the best of your ability can help you tone the muscles that will help you flatten your stomach as you shrink down.

After all, we all have to start somewhere.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:46.


Copyright © 2000-2024 Active Low-Carber Forums @ forum.lowcarber.org
Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.