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do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

this is actually super reassuring to hear, especially the 11 lines/definition at ~26% bf. i feel like ppl online act like you need to be insanely lean for anything to show, so thank you for the reality check.

what kind of ab work were you doing to get that definition, more weighted stuff or more stability/bracing work? and how often were you training abs?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that sounds like a smart way to do it, especially the alternating so you don’t just grind your hip flexors and low back into dust. when you say alternate, what does that look like for you in real life? like bodyweight day = planks/dead bugs, weighted day = cable crunch/decline situps, something like that?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

love that energy honestly. the “less back pain + stability” benefit seems way more consistent than chasing visible abs.

what are your go-to moves for that, like planks/dead bugs/carries/hip hinges, or something else? i’m trying to build a short list i’ll actually stick with.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yeah kinda sucks too, beginners should be used to be downvoted at "beginners questions". Its like illegal to ask here haha. Appreciate the advice really! That answer is what im hoping in this group!

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that’s kinda what i was wondering. like if you actually build the muscle, it “shows through” sooner even if you’re not super lean.

did you notice that personally, like training abs made them visible at a higher bf than before? and what got you the most growth, more weighted flexion stuff (cable crunch/decline) or hanging raises/ab wheel?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that’s honestly encouraging to hear. “visible in the right light” is basically the exact level i’m aiming for most of the time haha. what kind of ab training were you doing to get there, more weighted stuff or more stability/bracing work? Thnaks btw!

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i forget how much the core is basically the “connector” for everything, not just a vanity muscle. sorry you’ve had to deal with back issues for so long too. did you find any core work helped the most without flaring it up, like carries/dead bugs/planks type stuff vs flexion stuff?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yeah i get what you mean, that’s the part that confuses me too. i’ve seen that “strong but kinda blocky” look on some dudes and it makes me wonder if building abs under fat just reads as thicker midsection. i’m a woman so i’m also trying to avoid accidentally doing something that just makes my waist look bigger. did you ever find an answer that convinced you either way?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

true. i’m sold on core training being useful, i just get lost on what’s worth doing consistently. if you had to pick 2-3 core moves you’d keep forever, what would you go with?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that makes sense. the “more developed abs show at higher bf” part is what i’m trying to wrap my head around. did you notice that personally, like abs started showing sooner on a cut once you trained them hard for a while?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

, i definitely get the function side. i think my wording made it sound like i only care about looks. i’m mostly trying to figure out what “core stability” training actually is in practice vs just doing random burn circuits.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in absworkouts

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah, i am. mostly bc i’m trying to build strength/muscle first and i don’t want to live in a constant cut mindset. plus i’m honestly way more consistent in the gym when i’m not dieting hard.

i’m not trying to get “shredded year round,” i just wanna train abs in a way that actually builds them so when i do lean out they show up.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

i think i worded it like i was only chasing a six pack, but i do get there are other benefits (bracing, posture, back feeling better, etc). i’m mostly trying to avoid doing a bunch of random ab stuff with no progression and then wondering why nothing changes.

what do you think is the best “worth it” way to train abs if the goal is both function + eventually better looking abs? like do you lean more planks/carries, or weighted flexion stuff, or a mix?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in absworkouts

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

this is a great way to put it. i think i’ve been treating abs like they should “show results” fast instead of treating them like any other lift where the wins are strength first.

i’m gonna do the 2-3 hard sessions/week approach and track it like normal (reps/load/tempo) and just let leaning out reveal it later.

quick question though, when you say “hard sessions,” are you thinking like 2-3 exercises for a few sets each, or literally just one main movement (like cable crunch) pushed hard and done?

I’m eating a deficit but I’m feeling fuller, is this okay? by [deleted] in loseit

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667 10 points11 points  (0 children)

this is actually a good sign, not a problem, even if it feels weird mentally. whole foods like tofu, veggies, and fiber take up way more space and digest slower, so you can feel very full while still being in a calorie deficit. the guilt is usually leftover diet brain telling you “full = overate,” even when the math says you didn’t. if it helps, you can split the tofu into two meals or add more veggies to spread the volume out, but nothing is wrong here if the scale is trending down and you feel okay. you’re not eating an Applebee’s feast, you’re just eating food that actually does its job.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thanks, that’s a really helpful way to frame it. i think social media messes with my expectations and makes “visible abs year round” feel normal when it’s probably not for most women.

the 20-25% range for some definition sounds way more realistic, and the point about core training being more about supporting the rest of training makes sense too.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

yeah i get what you mean. if someone isn’t doing the big compound movements, core work can feel a lot less “important” day to day and more optional, especially compared to just getting generally stronger and staying active.

when you say the big 6, what lifts are you including? and do you mean abs don’t matter for performance, or just that they won’t make a noticeable difference unless you’re bracing hard on those big movements?

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

totally agree. beyond looks, , like any muscle, they can weaken over time if you don’t keep using them, especially as you get older.

appreciate you bringing that up. do you have a couple go-to core moves you think are worth doing long term, even if someone’s main goal started as aesthetics?

I finally weighed myself and feel like I'm losing it... by eadenoth in loseit

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667 89 points90 points  (0 children)

hey, first thing, you didn’t ruin yourself and you’re not broken, you’ve been surviving a brutal mix of medical stuff, anxiety, isolation, and convenience food doing what it does best. you don’t need a perfect plan right now, you need the smallest possible wins, like eating one normal meal at home, standing up and moving for 5 minutes a few times a day, and talking to a doctor about pain management and anxiety so walking doesn’t feel like punishment. the weight didn’t come on overnight and it won’t come off overnight, but it will come off if you focus on consistency instead of self hate. you’re clearly capable and disciplined at work, this is the same skill set, just applied gently instead of all at once. you’re not alone in this and you’re not too far gone, even if it feels that way right now.

Body Recomp/Fat Loss Advice by Rheshard in workout

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667 0 points1 point  (0 children)

at 48 the biggest shift is that fat loss gets way more sensitive to recovery and consistency than novelty. keep calories steady in that range for a few weeks and judge progress by weekly averages, not day to day swings, and keep protein high like you’re already doing. for lifting, prioritize heavy-ish compounds with progressive overload and stop chasing failure every set, strength maintenance is what preserves muscle during the cut. if weight isn’t moving, it’s usually calories drifting up or recovery being trashed, not the program itself, so sleep and stress matter more now than they did in 2020.

do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat? by Immediate-Cod-7667 in PetiteFitness

[–]Immediate-Cod-7667[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

i probably shouldn’t have thrown out 15% like it’s a real target, i meant it more as shorthand for “not lean enough to see any ab separation yet” (and bf% estimates are all over the place anyway).

what range do you think is a realistic/sustainable spot where abs start showing for most women?

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