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Frequently
asked questions about weight loss, diets, and fitness
Know
what works and what doesn't before you buy any fitness equipment,
start a diet, or take weight loss pills
By Lisa Kramer
| There
are so many of us with a weight (and other problems related
to being overweight or obese) problem, that companies
will sometimes oversell a weight loss or
dieting
product. In today's world, you have to be careful what
you buy. Our advice: do your research before you
buy. Visit as many websites as you can, read the
product information, pay attention to the claims and read
the fine print, find out the phone number of the company
from the website and call them up to ask questions if you
have doubts, and only then order something. Weight
loss is possible, but there is no easy way out. Supplements,
diets, and fitness
equipment - all are
needed and are a great help, but do your research first to
see what you need for your particular situation, be
disciplined and dedicated to weight loss, and you will
definitely succeed. |
1.
How can I lose weight only on my abs?
2.
How many crunches (abdominals) do I need to do to reduce my tummy?
3.
I see TV ads that advertise these great machines to have a flat tummy. Should I buy one?
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1.
How can I lose weight only on my abs?
The infomercials have convinced us that this is possible: to lose weight only in specific parts of our body and that we can select where we want to lose inches or pounds. This is simply not true. We cannot lose weight in certain spots. Spot reduction is a myth.
Our bodies are genetically conditioned on how we lose or
gain weight. Interestingly enough, the first place where we gain weight is the last place where we lose it. We cannot reduce only the part we do not like. Once we lose fat from our body, we lose inches everywhere even where we do not want to lose such as in the
chest area (for women).
2.
How many crunches (abdominals) do I need to do to reduce my tummy?
It is difficult to say; it depends on the
size of your tummy and the way your body works. But crunches are not enough. As we said in the previous question, there is no such thing as spot reduction. If you have a prominent tummy that has accumulated fat, then you need to lose that fat.
To reduce fat in our bodies, we need to do cardio exercise and
eat nutritious foods in reasonable amounts. In simple words, “burn more calories than you consume.” The cardio helps to burn that stored fat and the
lower calorie diet forces the body to use the accumulated fat for energy. In addition, the crunches and a total body workout (with
weight
training) helps the body to increase muscle mass. Muscles burn fat; fat does not burn itself so, the more muscle we have, the more fat our body uses for energy, so we
lose weigh
faster.
If you only do crunches, you will develop your abdominal muscles and strengthen them. This will reflect in
better posture and less back problems, but you will not be able to see your abdominal muscles because they will be covered with fat.
A lot of women are not able to have a
totally flat tummy. This is the way our bodies are designed, because we need some fat to protect our babies during
pregnancy. The six pack abs are easier to get for men than women. However, we can accomplish a
toned and almost flat tummy with a combination of diet and exercise. (Related:
Tummy by
Thermage)
 3.
I see TV ads that advertise these great machines to have a flat tummy. Should I buy one?
Please review our
answer #2. These machines usually advertise what is called in the fitness industry as “spot reduction.” Spot reduction means to lose weight in only one part of the body. This is not
possible; so do not think that by using any of these machines, you will get flat abs.
Usually you can obtain the same results from regular crunches without any machines. In most health clubs, there are a few machines that use weights to increase the intensity of the crunches. The regular machine helps to work both upper and lower abs and it makes the crunch workout time shorter.
(Related article: Lose
weight one ounce at a time)
Other simple machine is the
incline bench. The traditional incline bench elevates the body so that the body weight itself, along with the action of gravity, acts as a weight increasing the intensity of the crunch effort. These are great machines: you work upper and side abs with ease.
The Roman chair helps work the lower body. There is also a side abs machine which many trainers do not like because of the risk of injury to the spine.
If you do not have access to a gym, you can do all these exercises on the floor with the help of a good
exercise video or DVD. Many online shopping websites sell these exercise videos and they are very easy to follow. Most of these websites also have excellent information on exercises. You do not need to spend a lot of money in a machine. And do not expect that just by having a machine at home, you will get flat abs.
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Recommended links: More
questions answered: 4. Do some herbal remedies help to get a flat tummy?
5. What about controlling carbs and the tummy size?
6. Are some races more prone to having big bellies? All my
relatives have them.
Can
diets help in losing weight? Oprah's
boot camp Lose
weight one ounce at a time Eat
less, live longer and healthier
How
to get your body ready for the beach? Workout
options for beginners |
