Matt F says...
Quoted message said:Would you recommend the same methodology for using the
ab crunch machine? I always thought that more reps/less
sets is the key for ab workouts, in terms of burning fat
over gaining muscle mass in that region.
Well first let me point out that there is no such thing as
spot reduction or spot fat burning. The muscles do not
"burn" fat from the surrounding fat tissue when they do
work. They get glucose from the bloodstream. Fat is
deposited/removed according to your genetics, but generally
each person tends to put on weight in a certain pattern, and
take it off in the reverse order. But that's regardless of
which muscles are being exercised. This is
counter-intuitive, and counter to what MANY personal
trainers will tell you, but it's absoutely true.
Crunches can strengthen and enlarge the abdominal muscles,
but exercise which burns the most calories, or develops the
most thermogenic muscle tissue, will contribute most toward
reduction of all fat, including abdominal fat. So, squats
would probably do more to reduce abdominal fat than ab work
would.
As for ab work in general, it's a bit of a special area.
Whether it's true or not, I think it's generally accepted
that you can do more reps, and work the abs more frequently,
than other muscle groups. So, for example, even though
those who work out every day work other groups on alternate
days, they may do abs every day. To be honest, I have no
idea if this is valid or not. I work out three days a week,
and do abs like everything else. But I've never been
willing to take my bodyfat percentage down to the point
where a sixpack would be fully visible. So I've never been
an ab freak.
Quoted message said:I'll be swimming anyway! I already feel stronger, after
only 3 workouts in the weightroom.
I'll tell you what - lifting can be addicting. You feel
like doodoo at first, but then you stop being sore, and
start doing more and more weight, and then the muscles start
to be visible, and after a while you begin to look forward
to working out instead of having to force yourself to go.
But then, some guys get carried away - too much time and
effort, steriods, etc. So it's a balance that's needed.
But there's no doubt that you can materially change your
body over time.
Quoted message said:This question got overlooked though....do you think that
the hip abductor exercise would be good for my
breaststroke kick?
I really don't know. I'm not expert enough on either
swimming (and certainly not breaststroke) or weight training
to give you advice on that. And by the way, you get an
official "attaboy" for even doing breaststroke at all. :-)
Quoted message said:Thanks for devoting the time to helping me out, I'm much
more confident in my program now.
You're welcome. But you need to do your own research on
this stuff. That's what Google is for. You may find that
my opinions, or others' here, aren't right, or at least
aren't right for you. So keep an open mind, and try to
notice what seems to be working and what doesn't.
Good luck.
