How much do you focus on core?

[Marauder63]

this goes for frequency and length my core is the biggest area of concern for me to tighten up, everything else doesnt have nearly as much loose skin.

I have really taken up Heavy duty training as sort of a way dorian preaches it with good form etc,not taking long.

So if your to add core training how often and for how long do you prefer? normally I wouldnt care but I walk to and from the gym so that adds 40-50 minutes to each day (20-25 mins there and back).

[Talo]

You don't have to do core training at the gym.

Planks are great for the core.

[Dryvrgrl]

core... daily, usually at home

[PdH]

Squats and deads give me all the core training I need.

[Talo]

^^^ I thought the samething. Then I tried planks and Fallouts and realized how weak it was.

[PdH]

Maybe I'll give planks a try for shits and giggles. :)

[Marauder63]

I would like to think the same way, but surely if that is all it takes then wouldnt everyone be doing planks all the time? It's really my last trouble spot for loose skin and I have a year before my first contest to at least work towards tightening it up a bit and making the ab's pop out.

[PdH]

Bro, the only thing short of surgery that's going to help your loose skin is time. There are no skin tightening exercises.

[O-Train]

I would say for purely asthetic purposes if you can do a proper crunch, maybe add a bit of a twist to activate the obliques more. As long as you are drawing in your stomach and getting good TVA activation...do a bunch of those every day and it should be enough for anyone.

For overall body strength and developing a really strong core...that's a totally different animal.

[Marauder63]

Bro, the only thing short of surgery that's going to help your loose skin is time. There are no skin tightening exercises.

I have never really wanted to get surgery, and I know it will tighten in time. It is simply frustrating every now and then.


I would say for purely asthetic purposes if you can do a proper crunch, maybe add a bit of a twist to activate the obliques more. As long as you are drawing in your stomach and getting good TVA activation...do a bunch of those every day and it should be enough for anyone.

For overall body strength and developing a really strong core...that's a totally different animal.

well I think we all want a strong core, but yes it is mostly for the asthetic look, because even though I seem to be in good condition for the time being and have the majority of body parts filled out. My core is the last to go.

so you can understand the frustration

[O-Train]

The TVA activation refers to the transverse abdominus. It sits under the rectus abdominus and acts like a natural girdle. So along with making your core stronger it will help push the six pack muscles outwards. Most men tend to carry fat around the abdomen. For you it just may be the last place you lose fat.

[Marauder63]

The TVA activation refers to the transverse abdominus. It sits under the rectus abdominus and acts like a natural girdle. So along with making your core stronger it will help push the six pack muscles outwards. Most men tend to carry fat around the abdomen. For you it just may be the last place you lose fat.

what's weird though is my waist is as small as it's ever been,im hovering around 200lbs right now at just under 6' and wearing the same 34's (and with a belt on the last notch mind you). I think I just need to be more consistent with that aspect of my training and keep it weighted.

[Dryvrgrl]

I feel your pain Marauder!
after having a kid... and being over 200 pounds at one point... there is some skin that just will NOT shrink back!! however, I was sitting with a 24 inch waist ... we worked at fattening that thing up a bit (well, thickening it) in order to make the skin look tighter... I'm sitting at 27 inches right now and sporting some 6 pack outline!! so I think she's a workin!

I do deads and squats and all the normal "bodybuilder" excercises... but do plank, v-snaps , hanging v ups, hanging crunches, roman chair, russian torture leg raises etc... right now aprox 500 "crunches" (bends, leg ups, whatever is on my plate) a day... everyone on here game me shit for overtraining my abs already... but come to Provincials this year and let me know if you think it's working or not!

[Marauder63]

I feel your pain Marauder!
after having a kid... and being over 200 pounds at one point... there is some skin that just will NOT shrink back!! however, I was sitting with a 24 inch waist ... we worked at fattening that thing up a bit (well, thickening it) in order to make the skin look tighter... I'm sitting at 27 inches right now and sporting some 6 pack outline!! so I think she's a workin!

I do deads and squats and all the normal "bodybuilder" excercises... but do plank, v-snaps , hanging v ups, hanging crunches, roman chair, russian torture leg raises etc... right now aprox 500 "crunches" (bends, leg ups, whatever is on my plate) a day... everyone on here game me shit for overtraining my abs already... but come to Provincials this year and let me know if you think it's working or not!

do you do weighted or just body weight? I kind of think differently with ab's where you can use your bw and just proper form(but what do I know lol). I am really just not consistent with core training.I myself was pushing 310-325.

Provincials are in...may? I was set up to do novice this year but financially had to back out, only a junior though lol.

[Talo]

Strong Core and tight skin are too different things.

[Marauder63]

Strong Core and tight skin are too different things.

Well...ya I know I could have a strong core but not look pleasing from a bodybuilding standpoint.

[Dryvrgrl]

do you do weighted or just body weight? I kind of think differently with ab's where you can use your bw and just proper form(but what do I know lol). I am really just not consistent with core training.I myself was pushing 310-325.

Provincials are in...may? I was set up to do novice this year but financially had to back out, only a junior though lol.

body weight or light weight... 10 pounds on feet... sometimes 25 pounds for crunches.. I noticed alot of change this year under my belly button..

and drink lots of water!! ummmm my coach told me something about that and the look of skin, but I can't remember exactly what it was...

Do Novice!! They always can use more Jr's!! Plus it's the only reason my duaghter comes to shows!! lol... she LOVES watching the Jr's!

[ab_chic25]

nice to see someone actually asked the question rolling around in my head lol. going to try the plank tonight after work....

[GYMBRAT]

I never recommend doing weighted side exercises ie: side bends etc., it'll just give you a wider waist in the end ;) ........at least from a bbers stand point

[C-money]

The only thing i do for my core is squats and deads lol... hey GB missed ya last night for the back session! Where the hell were ya?

[GYMBRAT]

I know bro sorry, I'm out at the farm right now though, are ya goin in tonight?

[ironwill]

The only thing i do for my core is squats and deads lol... hey GB missed ya last night for the back session! Where the hell were ya?

I was just going to write the same thing, when you are doing heavy squats, deads, bench etc, you are exercising your core in a big way....no need for balls and side bends...

[GYMBRAT]

balls and side bends are for chics!

[ironwill]

balls and side bends are for chics!

chicky chicks........lol

[GYMBRAT]

yeah chicky chics!! hahaaa

but then again so are Japanese bikes LOL

[Marauder63]

body weight or light weight... 10 pounds on feet... sometimes 25 pounds for crunches.. I noticed alot of change this year under my belly button..

and drink lots of water!! ummmm my coach told me something about that and the look of skin, but I can't remember exactly what it was...

Do Novice!! They always can use more Jr's!! Plus it's the only reason my duaghter comes to shows!! lol... she LOVES watching the Jr's!

would if I could I was in mid cut when I lost my job,the remaining money I had was either to help pay for university fees or go towards helping me do the contest. Thats why I have to wait until next year where I will still be a junior.

[Marauder63]

balls and side bends are for chics!


chicky chicks........lol

nice to see such constructive words, I am not ignorant to the point where I dont know squats/deadlifts etc work the core. As much as this is true, I have a hard time believe it is going to contribute enough to the whole having loose skin issue.

Brb doing compound exercises like rows and presses for arm development, just because they get worked to an extent during those as well..

[GYMBRAT]

we wernt referring to you my friend sorry, he and I are just a diff bread then most and being sarcastic is all no offence towards you bro......again sorry.

[Marauder63]

we wernt referring to you my friend sorry, he and I are just a diff bread then most and being sarcastic is all no offence towards you bro......again sorry.

none taken, just read it at a bad time, though I will have to agree I dont really like side bends if I am going to do an ab exercise I will do one that hit's more then one part anyway.

[ironwill]

we wernt referring to you my friend sorry, he and I are just a diff bread then most and being sarcastic is all no offence towards you bro......again sorry.

ditto, no offense bro....being silly......to be honest i only read the last 2 pages........im a troll....

[C-money]

Brb doing compound exercises like rows and presses for arm development, just because they get worked to an extent during those as well..

Not trying to bust your balls.. but tons of bros with big arms dont do much direct arm work.. lots of powerlifters have massive arms and never do direct work.. just do lots of compound movements.

[tiramisu]

There's no exercise that is going to contribute to the "loose skin" issue except for maybe squats and deadlifts. You could use them to thicken up your middle to some extent.