El G: I'm not gonna get butt hurt so don't worry. Tell it like it is. I must've done something wrong when we were checking the body fat %. But honestly, I don't know how to explain how my "body" looks. I do see the shape coming in but I guess I'm not satisfied with it. http://awasteofawaist.wordpress.com/tag/body-fat-percentage/ Every picture is showing something different for the same body fat percentage. In the above link, the 12% picture is what id say it looks like to me but then again, our eyes deceive ourselves.
I'm in mexico drinking gallon sized tecates for 2 bucks. I was gonna diet but ain't nothingt to eat here. Chips and coke and then mexican hamburgers.
Maybe we have different definitions of a gut, bc neither the 12% nor 15% guy in those pics looks like he has a gut imo. No matter where you're actually at, you should start taking some periodical selfies (lol srs) as that is the easiest and quickest way to self-check progress. You won't always be able to see the difference in the mirror, but you should be able to tell from pics.
I'm nodding at everything in your post, except ain't nobody got time fo cokes. Unless you're talking about the non-liquid version obv.
Yea maybe thats the case. Man, I'm not a selfie taking person. LOL Only women should be taking Selfies.
i think shayan is referring to love handles, not gut, as in a belly. Some people can show ab definition at the top and some serratus anterior definition too, but yet have love handles. Don't get caught up in percentages, at least not the exact number. I'd rather think of it as a range, like you're in the 13-16% range, for example. When the fat % is measured with calipers, there's always a + or - error of 3%, IIRC. Then, you also have to factor in how skilled the person is at getting each measurement correct to do the calculation. That could easily throw it off by 5%. So imagine if you're off by plus 4% and the picture you're comparing it is off by -3%...no use in stressing over it. Unless you get a DEXA scan and compare that to other DEXA results, you'll always see differences. and stop doing AB isolation workouts. Just work out in general, eat well. You can't spot reduce fat. When you start to lose your love handles, the fat will be coming off all over. There's just more fat there, so it takes longer.
I think one can still do ab isolation workouts but it shouldn't be used as a tool to get rid of belly fat...you can't target where you're going to lose fat.
He can, but most ab programs are over kill and aren't really core work. A lot of it is on the ground and humans don't spend all their time on their backs. The core needs to learn how to function in a standing position and with the feet bearing one's weight. Also, in some cases, people's abs are already too tight from all the ab work they have done in hopes of getting a flat stomach. All that's doing is flexing your spine and could lead to your posture getting worse, not better. It's like doing biceps curls for years, without ever working your triceps. i'd lay off the biceps for a while to allow things to balance out.
What stretches/exercises should I do to fix my posture? Never realized that my poor posture was the cause of my curved lower back.
Well, Running, Ab workouts, and other exercises should be okay? I don't only do Ab workouts.. I play basketball and now I have consistently lifted weights for the last month or so.. So shouldn't doing them be okay?
My back has been killing me lately... Pretty sure it's ever since I jumped into lifting after only doing mostly cardio/cross-fitness kind of stuff. I figure I'll borrow P90X's lifting routines to ready myself for some of the bigger lifts: Dead Lift, Barbell Squat, etc etc.
I think the best way to "ready yourself" for the bigger lifts is to actually do the bigger lifts. Just keep the weight down and focus on form for the first few weeks. Just because you're doing the bigger lifts doesn't mean you have to do bigger weight.
It depends on what those other exercises are. If you're doing a bunch of isolation exercises then you aren't using your core that much.
I suggest doing supermans for lower back pain from increasing your activity levels. I had terrible back pain in college after I started lifting and running daily. You basically lie on your belly, then pull your shoulders and legs off the ground at the same time. That's one. Do 3 sets of 10, followed by a prolonged hold of 20 seconds.
Thanks. I was actually incorporating those in my bi/back workouts at the end and loved em. You KNOW they're targeting your lower back and you can certainly feel the burn during & after. Feels good man.
People seem to think back issues indicate weakness in the lower back...i guess there's truth to that, but it's weak relative to what you're lifting because it's not meant to carry/push/pull most of the load..it's usually a sign you're not using your core, including the hips, properly, if at all. If you've ever had to lift stuff, while in a crouched position, like somewhere with a low ceiling, for example, you likely had your back killing you the next day. If you're getting a similar feeling, then it's the back doing too much work and hips arent.
I think you have the same issue as me. I am also of average weight - 180 lbs and a few inches taller than you, however, I have a gut as well. I've done some research, and I think my gut (and yours as well it seems) stick out because we have weak core muscles. Not only that, but our posture sucks. I can confirm my posture sucks, but you also mentioned you wanting to improve your posture as well. So, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm starting to work on my core muscles and improving my posture as well, but looking for tips on the way.
