boxer abs

[overrx]

maybe someone can explain this to me....many boxers have six pack abs, which pretty much means they have a low bodyfat....so why does their stomach stick out like a bear belly?...this may sound stupid but ive always been curious how you can look pregnant and still have a six pack

 

[The Almighty]

If they work their abs with heave weight, the abs grow and stick out furhter and further.

 

[overrx]

good call, note to self - stop weighted crunches

 

[Willyumyum]

They do that because.. well... When you get punched in the gut and there isn't much muscle the wind gets knocked out of you... the more muscle, the less the wind gets knocked out of you... They have huge abs from doing weighted type ab exercises that are geared towards making their abs harder and bigger so as to withstand more beating....
YUM

 

[BlckSheep]

Although I was never a golden gloves child prodigy like the fellow in another thread, I did used to box and trained closely with a number of other boxers as well. Never really noticed the effect you mention, but I will point out that strength/flexibility imbalances between the illiopsoas and rectus abdominis muscles can bring about an effect like you describe -- a bulge (usually in the lower portion) in spite of a high level of definition. And considering that full situps are still a very popular exercise among boxers, and that situps are known to cause or exagerrate this imbalance for some people, my guess is that's what you're seeing.

 

[Golfer18--old]

I have a guy at work, his sides stick out over his shorts or whatever he is wearing, b/c he does heavy weights. That shit is crazy.

 

[Hugh Gellatts]

"strength/flexibility imbalances between the illiopsoas and rectus abdominis muscles can bring about an effect like you describe -- a bulge (usually in the lower portion) in spite of a high level of definition. And considering that full situps are still a very popular exercise among boxers, and that situps are known to cause or exagerrate this imbalance for some people, my guess is that's what you're seeing."


That's exactly what I got when I did martial arts where we did full sit-ups constantly. Actually I temporarily had bad back problems because of the imbalance.