Victoria,
I have been doing your Thin Thighs program and I absolutely love it! I am stuck indoors because of this crazy winter weather. The inner and outer thigh series is a killer. My legs are getting really toned.

It’s been hard not to snack all day because I love comfort foods, but I am finding better foods that don’t build fat like you suggested and that has been very effective. I believe the weather is going to improve soon and I want to emerge victorious and lean when spring comes.

My question is; what ab exercise do you suggest for targeting my lower abdominals? I know you can’t do spot toning, but there must be something I can do for flattening my tummy.
~ Jamia


Hi Jamia, Good job taking a bad weather situation and using it to your advantage. You are stuck inside your home and you took the time to train your body and not sit and overeat and gain weight.

You could have played the “poor me” victim game, but you took a warrior stance and used the conditions and focused on improving yourself by training your body.
That takes a great deal of commitment and discipline. As you see, it’s totally worth it.

I had a client who had to be in great shape for a show who was confined to her trailer near the set where she filmed. She loved munching on crunchy snacks so I had to work with the crafts service provider to get her crunchy low glycemic snacks. They had to be cut and prepared in small servings so that she could eat a bunch and still not get fat.

Then I had to rearrange her trailer so that we made a mini-workout area with a BIG poster of her in a sexy outfit that she loved and made her feel good about herself. So that every time she walked into the trailer she had a visual picture of her goal.

A few weeks on a set of eating comfort foods and sitting around could have caused her to GAIN weight during the filming. Not only would she feel bad about her weight gain, she would have been self conscious on the set working with the wardrobe department. It would have been a disaster to have a big chance to live her dreams in drama only to spend her time tugging on her clothes and not feeling confident.

Target Ab Training
You are right about spot toning. You obviously are motivated to get in shape because you are using my program and seeing great results. Since you are doing the right things already, her is the perfect alignment move and some tips for flattening your lower abdominal area.

Lower abdominal exercises should be included in every time you do abs. They are important for spinal stability and injury prevention especially for your low back.

There are two lower abdominal muscles, the lower portion of the Rectus Abdominus and the Transverse Abdominus. The Rectus Abdominus runs vertically and is responsible for pulling the front of the pelvis up towards the belly button. The Transverse Abdominus runs horizontally under the Rectus Abdominus and is responsible for pulling the belly button inward towards the spine and that can help with appearance of a flat lower ab region.

FLATTENING the LOWER AB REGION

Flattening the lower back against the floor while hollowing and flattening your lower ab region is what makes this move perfect.

This exercise helps to strengthen and build endurance in muscles that support and protect the low back from injury. Here is what to do:

Start lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Try to relax as much as possible. There should be a small space under your lower back from the natural curve in the spine.

Activate your lower abdominals to flatten your lower back until the space decreases and you feel pressure against the floor.

Some pelvic rotation will occur for the back to flatten completely, but make sure to use your abdominal muscles to create the motion. Your legs should stay as relaxed as possible and not be used to create the pelvic rotation.
Start by holding this contraction for 4 seconds, then slowly crunch for the count of 2 then return to the floor. And repeat.

Work to improve your ability to take deep breaths while maintaining the contraction of the lower abdominal muscles.

Work to improve your ability to take deep breaths while maintaining the contraction of the lower abdominal muscles as well.

Keep up the great work. You want to perform 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions as a beginner and 3 sets of 12-24 repetitions 4 times per week

Combine this move with your other ab exercises.

Cycle into Your regular Routine
Do 2-3 sets at the beginning of your ab series and end your ab training workout with 2 sets of ten reps to hollow your abs and get them adapted to a new flat feeling and appearance.

You can experiment with reps and sets as well. When you first start you may not be able to do very many, but keep at it, your strength and appearance will improve.

6 Tips for Success

*Never strain during ab exercises.

*If your lower back hurts, stop immediately and discontinue the exercises and see your healthy doctor or chiropractor.

*Never pull on your neck while doing abs.

*Focus on tilting your pelvis upward to get the strongest contraction of your lower abs.

*Keep your head straight and eyes focused forward.

*For increased intensity, place a medicine ball between your knees and squeeze when doing the crunch.

*Contract your abs at the top and hold for as flat as possible while exhaling and then return to the beginning of the move.

Spring is on the way, and I know you will be ready for greet the sun looking great.

Don’t let the recession get you down. Everything in the universe works in cycles, this too shall pass. Keep your eyes up and your energy high. Live is to be lived. Go for your dreams and don’t be a spectator, be a dream maker!

Make this your most fun week ever.

Victoria


Your Celebrity Personal Trainer!

Bye-Bye Thunder Thighs!