Expert: Bonnie Hardie - 3/24/2009

Question
Help -- I'm at a total loss regarding my lower abs.  I've been exercising, taking classes for a good 4 1/2 years 3x/week mixing up cardio workout, interval/strength training and abs workout (minimum of 4 hours of cardio/strength training and 1 hour of abs a week) and I've developed a pouch in my lower ab area (a roll over my jeans).  

I'm in my 40's now -- is it that, or could I be doing my abs workout incorrectly.  I've noticed for about a year now that when I do the ab workouts, my stomach tends to puff out when I do the exercises, and I used to have a somewhat flat stomach?

Can you help with any advice, as I'm going crazy trying to figure out why this is happening??  Thank you so much for your time and expertise!

Answer
Hi Hol,
The most important thing that you need to do to reduce the fat off of your lower abdomen is to have a good diet-less fat and sodium -more protein and carbs.
Drink plenty of water every day.
Some good lower abdominal exercises include;
leg lifts
knee ups
captains chair.
Also,you can do some full body exercises;
deadlift-overhead lift-etc.
You want to "engage the core" as much as possible every day-that means to pull in your abdominals and brace them for 30-60 seconds.
You can look up how to do these exercises on youtube.com.
Thank You,
Good Luck,
Bonnie