So I'd like to put to all you fitness buffs a couple of questions I've got.
I've been running now for the best part of 2 years. Typically I'll run about 3 miles a day for 5 days a week on certain days, usually about 2 a week; I'll combine this with a weight training exercise using dumbbells. The dumbbells are only about 7kg each and the exercises are more for toning and control, on arms and chest. I don't think I've broken beyond this point because I'm somewhat lacking in core strength and endurance. This is somewhat evidenced by the fact that whilst I am well-toned and muscular going up to my waist and across my chest and arms, I've still got a flabby tummy and lower back.
To rectify this, I've acquired an exercise ball and been shown a good variety of mid-section exercises to build on core strength and encourage muscle definition in the abs and lower back.
I've tried to expand on these exercises and also find the best way to incorporate a routine that involves these exercises and my running as a form of cardio.
I've come across two problems.
Because I'm specifically focusing on abs now, the internet is literally teeming with rubbish and spam about "getting a flat stomach" which is clearly designed to rope in the fatties. You'll never find the same advice replicates itself. There are numerous videos on YouTube which involve personal trainers going through exercise ball routines, but many of them seem to contradict each other because there are simply so many of them. I'm after a good routine for core (abs and lower back) involving the exercise ball and/or dumbbells I can replicate 2-3 times a week.
I've also been trying to work out if it's best to start a routine with toning exercises and move on to running to finish, or vice versa: I would like to devise a routine where I benefit from my running in the sense that by performing core strength and toning exercises I'm opening up to allow my cardio element to burn the fat around my mid-section in a targeted manner. Again, sifting through the nonsense on the internet, I've not been able to find a straight answer on this one.
My run takes about 20 minutes and I don't think I need to spend more than 20 minutes on toning exercises to see some good results and build up some core strength. I think this is a reasonable expectation that I should get something out of 40 minutes of exercise but I wonder if my expectations are too high.
I realise it's a bit silly asking on a forum like this about exercise, but I've tried a few fitness forums and most of the answers are contradictory and seem to be from spambots and sellers of some kind. I'm sure there are some folks on here that'll have the knowledge I need to start burning some belly fat.
I've been running now for the best part of 2 years. Typically I'll run about 3 miles a day for 5 days a week on certain days, usually about 2 a week; I'll combine this with a weight training exercise using dumbbells. The dumbbells are only about 7kg each and the exercises are more for toning and control, on arms and chest. I don't think I've broken beyond this point because I'm somewhat lacking in core strength and endurance. This is somewhat evidenced by the fact that whilst I am well-toned and muscular going up to my waist and across my chest and arms, I've still got a flabby tummy and lower back.
To rectify this, I've acquired an exercise ball and been shown a good variety of mid-section exercises to build on core strength and encourage muscle definition in the abs and lower back.
I've tried to expand on these exercises and also find the best way to incorporate a routine that involves these exercises and my running as a form of cardio.
I've come across two problems.
Because I'm specifically focusing on abs now, the internet is literally teeming with rubbish and spam about "getting a flat stomach" which is clearly designed to rope in the fatties. You'll never find the same advice replicates itself. There are numerous videos on YouTube which involve personal trainers going through exercise ball routines, but many of them seem to contradict each other because there are simply so many of them. I'm after a good routine for core (abs and lower back) involving the exercise ball and/or dumbbells I can replicate 2-3 times a week.
I've also been trying to work out if it's best to start a routine with toning exercises and move on to running to finish, or vice versa: I would like to devise a routine where I benefit from my running in the sense that by performing core strength and toning exercises I'm opening up to allow my cardio element to burn the fat around my mid-section in a targeted manner. Again, sifting through the nonsense on the internet, I've not been able to find a straight answer on this one.
My run takes about 20 minutes and I don't think I need to spend more than 20 minutes on toning exercises to see some good results and build up some core strength. I think this is a reasonable expectation that I should get something out of 40 minutes of exercise but I wonder if my expectations are too high.
I realise it's a bit silly asking on a forum like this about exercise, but I've tried a few fitness forums and most of the answers are contradictory and seem to be from spambots and sellers of some kind. I'm sure there are some folks on here that'll have the knowledge I need to start burning some belly fat.
