Has anyone out there been on the Zone Diet while at the same time working on defining their abdominal muscles? If so, any advice on particular exercises or foods that will assist in this quest.

One thing that I do for my abs is: lung, twist, bend (if you can picture this). Basically while you are in a lunge you slowly turn your upper body and have your opposite elbow touch your knee. (hands behind your head) This takes coordination at first and works the obliques. Cheers Dawn :D

Dawn , you are absolutely correct about the ifficacy of this exercise. It is done lying on your back. You legs are going like you're riding a bicycle, and your arms go just like you said-opposite elbow and knee touch. And it gives me cramps after about 30 reps when I start. Just takes my breath away. It is soooo hard.

That is one way to do it. I start off in the lunge format. When I am in the lunge I twist my upper body (slightly) and my elbow goes toward the knee. No easy. I do about 40. All my weight training is in reps of 4. I am presently working on running more to change my routine. Hopefully be able to do a marathon this fall. (I have to have a goal :oops: ) What's your routine? Cheers Dawn

You all might know this, but everyone already has six-pack abs. You just have to remove the layer of body fat that covers them up. And you can't spot reduce. You need to burn calories to get rid of the body fat, and doing ab work doesn't burn a lot of calories compared to other aerobic exercises.

I DON'T want to hear this! :twisted: I don't want it to be just lose the weight and they'll show up. I need more than one excuse!!!!! That said, and though you are correct, Dawn's toning and working routine will definitely help with the looks and definition when the "gloves are off". Especially the way she works the obliques! I almost pulled a muscle envisioning her workout! Dawn: You mentioned you are getting ready for a marathon. Here's an exercise for you that I think will help a lot, but know that I'm the only one who thinks this, as far as I am aware. It's something I started doing when I had a sore back, and it helped me out a lot. Lie on your back, bend your knees about 1/2 way. Now lift your butt off the floor, so only your feet on one end, and your head and shoulders on the other end are on the floor. Hold for awhile. Work up to 5 minutes. Now try it with only 1 foot on the floor, the other up in the air, where is not significant except it must no be on the other leg as it will then help do the work. This works 5 different areas, and helps tremendously with posture. It works the lower back, the glutes, the hamstrings, the quads, and the hip extensors. It is a marvelous exercise, and in about a month you won't believe the difference. If you do it, I'd really be curious if you got any benefit from it. I sure did, but I've never heard of anyone using it before. Bob

Bob, Is that movement that you described up above a wrestler's bridge? It sounds similiar. How did it help your back? I have lower back problems at times. If I'm not careful, while I'm bending over or lifting something, I can get a stinger in my lower back. It feels like I get shocked. After that happens, forget about it. I'm usually in bed for a day or two. I may give that exercise a try to see if it helps. Thanks Mike

Mike, It's very similar. The difference of course is the wrestler's bridge is head and feet on the floor, where this is shoulders and feet on the floor. I started only lifting my hips a couple inches off the floor, and gradually over time increased the lift and the time of holding it. Then I went to 1 foot at a time. THAT is nasty! That's where I discovered that the weak side of my back is the left side. So I worked it. It took about 2 or 3 months before I noticed a lot of changes in my musculature. But there are a lot, and in surprising locations.