This may not be the right place to ask, but I was wondering if anyone had any hints on tightening the lower stomach area.

I am one of those people who have what my doctor "delicately" terms an apron stomach.

Even though I've only lost 20 pounds I'm already noticing a definite deflation of that area, which means its going to be a real problem way before I reach the point of being ready to consider surgery for removal of excess skin.

(needless say, the deflation of the area is a GOOD thing, but I'd really like to minimize the possibility I'll have this rather bizarre flag flying below my waist while I lose down to my goal)

Good question! I don't know if there's an answer, but I'll be looking forward to reading your replies.

I'm going to start doing my "Abs of Steel" and "Buns of Steel" videos when I lose some more weight, in the hopes that they will help somewhat.

Cog

I'm curious too. The ab excercises that I do at Curves and at home (slow-motion crunches mainly) really seem to work the upper and lateral abdominal areas and not really the lower (aprony) ab area.

Though I have felt the "burn" in that area when doing slow-motion leg lifts (lie on the floor with a pillow under your head, lower back kept pressed into the ground - that's the most important part, it's the real excercise! - then s-l-o-w-l-y lift your straight legs off the floor up to 6 inches and then just as slowly lower, if you can do more than 8 you are moving too fast.)

But while that feels like it's tightening the muscle underneath it isn't shaping or tightening the apron itself.

I used to be an exercise/weights junkie "back in the day".

Best way to get your lower belly muscles is to lay flat on your back, arms outstretched and flat, palms down for balance. Keeping your feet together, lift your legs about 4-5 inches off the ground, hold, and slowly lower.

Its actually the lower slowly bit that works the muscle. The slower you lower, the more it will burn.

While you are lifting your legs, inhale.

While you are lowering your legs, exhale.

As you get stronger, and your balance gets better, you can do a few in a row without your feet touching the ground in between.

If you have trouble holding your feet togther, you can do a modified version by crossing your ankles, to help support your legs.

No doubt, when you start, it will be difficult, just do a few at a time so you dont hurt yourself, and get discouraged.

When you are done, lay with your arms outstetched over your head, breath deep and literally just SUCK IN YOUR BELLY, hold it, and release.

Keep yourself well hydrated, and use a firming moisturizer to help the skin regain some elasticity. I noticed a MARKED improvment in my skin and its elasticity since I started regularly using Nivea firming lotion.

Speaking of exercise, I met an old friend walking the other day. She's lost over 100lbs and is now a personal trainer. I asked her about situps and things that are difficult because of my weight gain, and she suggested starting with "side situps/crunches" lay flat, knees bent, keep one elbow down on the ground for support, and and lift the other towards my opposite knee. After a while this strengthens your stomache, and sides, and then doing regular situps/crunches will be easier and less stress on your back.

Good luck!

Also try a "reverse crunch" for lower ab work.

Arie is correct, you can not 'spot reduce' and you can't make the skin dissapear. The only thing you can do is lose more fat =)
And yep, reverse crunches are great for lower abs, and your back. The reward of ab exercises will be noticeable when all the fat is gone, can you say 6 pack?

I have the same problem after 3 children....however, I finally got some answers. Of course you can't target weight loss, unfortunately! I started using Pilates,(wonderful),5 day abs are even harder but work! They are only a few minutes a day, so easy to include with my other workouts. My abs are toning and shrinking. Good luck!

Jess

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, try Winsor Pilates (www.winsorpilates.com or a ton of infomercials); they really do an amazing job of tightening the entire ab area, including almost immediate results in that lower ab area you mentioned. I've been doing them since May and I can hardly believe how much my abs have shrunk and tightened, even though I still have a lot of weight to lose. And boy, does a shrinking tummy make you feel like you are getting skinnier! My thighs are also thinner, my rear end is actually defying gravity and moving up, plus what I thought was celluloid is smoothing out. And I am 56 years old, so I know for sure that exercise works no matter what age you are!

I do the 20 minute workout three times a week and it is worth every penny.

Karla

Thanks for all the suggestions -- I really have no illusions that at 47 that the skin will disappear, but I really DO need to do something to tone up that area as much as possible.

My back and posture have suffered under all this weight, now that I'm losing it I'd like to get at least some muscle tone to give them both a break!