Calling all P.T's.....

[EL GAUCHO]

Hey all.....
Since I can remember I have had a slightly potruding lower ab area....even when my body fat is real low (8% after cutting).
The rest of me is all good....but my lower abs are solid, but slightly come out totally ruining the easthetics of my abs. There is nothing to pinch there.
According to a Pilates teacher I know, its caused by the heavy lifting i'm constantly doing.
I've tried everything...lower ab exercises, upper abs...stability ball...you name it.
Could it be the exercises themselves causing this "bump"?

 

[bignate73]

how much control do you have at "drawing in" your abs? if you have an weak TVA (inner core unit) you can lack tone enough to hold your abs in.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

I think I have good control...I do plenty of "core" work using medecine balls, pullys and stability balls.
I'm now thinking it may just be a stubborn layer of fat...

 

[bignate73]

how do your abs look in the morning?

does the skin on your abs seem uniform in thickness or is it thicker? Its not unusual to carry a little still around the belly button.

 

[treilin]

If I may say... Do you work your lower back? I was thinking the same weak TVA (inner core unit)... A lot of people have anterior pelvic tilts where their lower back is tighter then their lower abs. If you can try to squeeze your lower abs and pull your pelvis back under you that will place the lower back in it's right position, and of course the pelvis. From your picture it looks like you could have an anterior pelvic tilt. I would need a side shot though. It's a postural thing you have to concentrate on fixing which is hard after years of bad posture. Could also try a topical fat burner like yohimburn sold at the EF store to decrease stubborn fat.

 

[JOE77]

a good technique is to strengthen your stomach and stop the protruding lower ab section by practicing to keep your stomach pulled in whilst breathing normally that goes for while you are doing exercise as well.Another thing which i learned from watching the dvd movie of ronnie colemans movie on the road in australia was he was told wear a weight lifting belt all day to help him suck in his stomach .

 

[EL GAUCHO]

treilin: I think you may have nailed my problem, i definately "over-arch" my back.
I cycle daily, and reckon this may have thrown off my core strength compared to my legs.
So you reckon keep the the pelvis tucked in right? Anything else specific I could do?

 

[jonny jacked]

If I may say... Do you work your lower back? I was thinking the same weak TVA (inner core unit)... A lot of people have anterior pelvic tilts where their lower back is tighter then their lower abs. If you can try to squeeze your lower abs and pull your pelvis back under you that will place the lower back in it's right position, and of course the pelvis. From your picture it looks like you could have an anterior pelvic tilt. I would need a side shot though. It's a postural thing you have to concentrate on fixing which is hard after years of bad posture. Could also try a topical fat burner like yohimburn sold at the EF store to decrease stubborn fat.

This is what I have - from years of poor posture. I have great abs, 7-8% body fat - but my abs (stomach) sticks out (and so does my ass a bit). if you go to a chiropractor they can help correct your posture with you.

 

[Pure Pilates]

Your on the right track with Pilates (not that I'm bias!). Lay down on a hard surface and see if you have a curvature in your lower back. Your low back should be essentially flat to the floor. If you have this curvature, what you need to do is strengthen your core but especially your lower back. I suggest you get back with your Pilates Instructor and use the core training to agument what you are doing in the gym and elsewhere. Be aware that not all pilates is created equal. Unfortunately, there are some "weekend graduates" who profess to be Pilates Instructors. If they drag the giant ball out, run quick. Use my web link:

http://www.pure-pilates.net

I have a link in there to True Pilates centers with instructors who teach as originally taught by Joseph Pilates. Go there and you can find a Pilates Studio where the instructors take yearly CPE and are required to take as much as 700 hours of instructon before they could call themselves a Pilates Instructor. You can find a proper studio in your neck of the woods. Good luck.