Fitness Goals Support Group

work on your core - do your exercising on a stability ball to be giving your back support.

You need to picture that your front is connected to your back, so you feel the effects of your workout all around your mid section, not just in your front. Think of a girdle- it's all one wraparound that you are exercising.
Practise doing a plank and in just a short time, you will feel both your front and back affected.

Personally...I think doing alot of ab is not merited..structurally u may not need it...depends on yr lumbar spine and position of pelvis!

I disagree Astro.

The base of almost all exercising revolves around a strong core. Without it, we have crappy balance and cannot perform these exercises to the fullest potential. When I got sick, my core took the biggest hit. I found doing squats was nearly impossible until I built my core back up...front and back. I always do abs and low back together. Of course, one has to be careful...but that's with everything. Form is key in any movement one does.

So, when we do abs and low back...it's for more than just trying to achieve the perfect 6 pack.

It depends on what exercise you do! Off course for your sport (power lifting, squats) abdo work is important, but in stillwaiting's case aerobic exercise will be best for burning fat and pilates type exercise. There are alot of people out there who get back pain from too much abdo work, from my experience!

I use a big yoga ball now. Get off the floor if you are still doing crunches down there. I have four different ab exercises that I do while watching TV.

keep in mind that you can't spot reduce. If you are doing ab work to get rid of belly fat, you will be disappointed. The way to get rid of any fat is honestly through your diet. The body decides where to store and where to eliminate, not you. No amount of exercises for a certain area is going to rid fat in that area alone.

Now, if you are still having lower back issues when you do ab work, you just need to support your lower back. By using a thicker foam mat for exercises when you lie flat on the floor, or else placing your lower back on a stability ball, you should not be feeling pains in your back..
Be sure to separate ab and core; a person can have a really strong core and be able to hold a full plank for some time, but still have the fine core covered with a not-so-fine slab of flab.

In my mind, diet, cardio, and weight training are going to overall improve your health and also slim down that belly fat.
belly fat is probably the most common complaint for people, and it's usually the last place for fat to disappear.