Abdominal Envy
I'm envious of your abs! I've been trying hard to get a fab set myself, but
it's not going so well. Do you have to put in a lot of work to get them looking
so great?
How can I get awesome abs like yours?
T. Bere, Syracuse, NY
Thanks for the compliment! I admit, I love working abs, perhaps because they
come as the easiest for me, however that’s not what keeps them lean. Remember,
you can do abdominal exercises all day long, but if you do not have a healthy
diet or lifestyle, you may never see that six pack. You first have to clean up
your diet and shed the layer of fat on top of your abdominal muscles. Cutting
out simple sugars worked best for me, while also sticking to a diet high in
fiber, moderate in carbohydrates, medium to high in protein, and low in
saturated fat. Muscle and Fat are two different components, so training your
abdominals will not spot reduce the layer of fat on top of them. Unfortunately
your genetics also play a role in whether or not you’ll have a ripped belly. For
me, perhaps because I have a longer torso, the first place I gain my fat is my
legs or thighs, so that is also the last place I’ll lose it. For others,
especially men, the first place that annoying stuff goes is to their belly and
again, they have to loose weight from their legs, arms, face, and hands, before
it comes off those abs. The numbers I have heard in the role that genetics play
varies from 80-95%, but guess what, that leaves some percentage up to us. Watch
the environment you are in; are you surrounded by an unhealthy eating plan or
lifestyle? Are you training hard enough? Try your best, and even if you don’t
get that six pack, don’t give up. A strong stomach plays a very important role
in all your training; as well as your balance and posture.
My favorite exercises 3-4x weekly: 4 sets of 25 reverse knee raises on an
incline board
4 sets of 20 hanging knee raises
Abdominal crunches on a stability ball…really gives them a stretch
Workout Boredom
You've got a great physique! I'm sure you are very diligent at keeping your
body fit, lean and healthy.
Has there ever been times where you've become tired or bored with training and
working out?
S. Thomas, Baton Rouge, LA
Bored of working out? Never! Ok, truthfully, sure I get bored and burned out of being in the same gym day after day. Usually before I contest I get more motivated in the gym, but if I over train or have a lot of down time that’s when I get bored of the same old thing in the same old place. The solution? I go outside and run where I can enjoy my surroundings, or I go train outside on my obstacle course. I don’t go too long without working out because it makes me feel better about myself and it reduces a lot of stress and pent up energy. In order to not get burned out, try varying up your routine with some different exercises, or take an aerobics class instead of using the elliptical machine. Even listening to upbeat music helps boost my cardio workout. If not working out though, I’d rather just relax with my boyfriend and watch some of my favorite TV shows like Friends, Will & Grace, and Alias.
What's the Difference
What's the biggest difference between being in a Tri-Fit competition and a
Fitness America competition?
Which do you prefer?
M. Gregory, Sudbury, ON
Hi! Let me initially say that I really do not prefer one competition over the other. Each has its differences and I love competing in both. The biggest difference between the two organizations is there currently are more regional competitions across the nation for Fitness America so it may be easier to find one to compete in. If you are athletic in other sports besides dance or gymnastics, and the routine round is not your strongest point, than the Women’s Tri-Fitness would be a great challenge. Although to win overall you must do the routine round in the WTF, it is still an option, and you can enter the competition as a dual event instead which is comprised only of the obstacle course and fitness skills. The WTF is also broken down into 6 age and 2 height categories, so although you may not take the overall title, you are likely to go home with an award in your category. The FAP is only two rounds except for the possible interview, so it only takes one day verses the WTF that usually takes two days because of the strenuous and multiple rounds.
Fitness America has been around longer so the stage and lighting settings may
be more professional, and their national events are televised, which is a bonus
if you are trying to get recognized. I think when the WTF gets more sponsors you
will find more shows available throughout the year, and eventually they will
grow as big as other organizations. The number of contestants per competition
already exceeds most other organizations with a whopping 140 competitors in the
2001 World Challenge. For more information please see
www.fitnessamerica.com and
www.womenstri-fitness.com .
Heavy Lifting
How much weight do you usually
use for those lifts when you're just working out?
What's the most weight you've ever done?
N. Strong
I lift light to moderate b/c I easily build muscle. I get too lean up top and
too bulky below so it's frustrating! I also do some plyometrics, especially when
training for my obstacle course. Of course when I practice my routine I cut out
most of my weights because it takes a lot of energy to throw your body around in
jumps, flips and one arm pushups! I really haven't ever tried to Max out on
anything so I couldn't tell you the most weight I've ever done.