Ab Question

True. The exercise that made the most difference to reducing the back pain I experienced during both ab work and bent-over rows was back hyperextensions on the equipment where you lie face down, groin on a pad, calves under rollers. Bodyweight initially, working up to a 20kg plate in hands.

Yeah, while doing the exercise I've often wondered where I'm actually bending. I think it's both simultaneously, though there must be a lot of hip bend because my sets are usually terminated by ham burn, though I can also feel it along my lower back. I'll try shifing down a bit and see if I notice a difference. Thanks.

Thanks.

I'm not saying you're wrong, because I'm sure that does play a role in my problem, but I neglected to tell you last night, that my father, his father, and his grandfather all had back problems, with the exception of my great-grandfather, they have had surguries to correct the problems.

Thanks for all your suggestions tho, even if, as a newbie, i wasn't always 100% sure what you were talking about. I'm sure I'll learn.

What exactly is the issue with your back? A lot of people have back pain, and it's not clear that structural problems are particularly related to the incidence of pain. In fact, an orthopedist can't look at an X-ray or MRI and tell whether or not it's from a back pain sufferer.

People who suffer from back pain generally find that things are better when they're active, and their back muscles are stronger. The best strategy is to do what you can. On days when the back feels OK, do your regular back workout. On days when it doesn't, do what you can. Over the long haul, it should get better. You may always feel that you have a bad back, but once you can deadlift twice your bodyweight with that bad back you may decide you can live with it.

True enough. Can you think of anything in particular you didn't get?

Lower back pain can make ab work difficult for me as well.

In fact, my lifelong fibromyalgia dates from busting up my lower back playing soccer in high school. Lower back issues can have lifelong consequences.

First, see if you can strengthen your lower back with progressively heavier compound exercises like deadlifts and squats. My pain levels and frequency have diminished considerably.

If you are having pain problems, you might try ab crunches on an incline bench, starting with your torso at about 30 degrees above horizontal. Holding your arms across your chest might place less stress on your lower back than holding them across your chest. If they're too easy, holding a barbell plate to the chest can provide more resistance. If you still feel your back, try consciously throwing more load to curling your torso with the abs and obliques.

This allowed me to do useful ab work when starting flat was impossible due to major pain. Hope it helps for you.

Hope So. Thanks.

Most of the names of exercises beyond basics, but I'll just look them up.

Also,

Flexing the spine? How do you flex bones?

I'm still getting used to different names of muscle groups (I'm 18, and I'm only now getting into exercise, since I always felt that there was no point, i was a large guy through my teens and i kinda gave up on myself. With the weight down - yet there's still a large deposit of fat on top of my stomach... the main thing i wanna get rid of... like, i'm not going for the way-too-muscley look - no offense to those here who have it - just kinda thinner, get myself some respectable abs..)

Wow, I ranted a bit longer there than I wanted to... I guess I should stop.

The spine is a system of bones and joints. You can flex your spine because of all the joints.

Doesn't matter. You're here now. For muscle groups, look at the exrx website I cited earlier,
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

The left side of the page is a directory of muscles and the links give excellent descriptions of what the muscles do. The right side of the page tells you what exercises hit which muscles.

That's your story now. Wait til you see the results start rolling in.

Okay, but if this will help my back pain while working my abs.. how is it done?

Cool. I haven't been there yet, I hope these aren't too equipment-heavy, cuz like I said, I'm 18... money's tight and I can't just drop like $1000 into this thing.

No, seriously, I just saw like a bodybuilding competition on TV, and I was half-disgusted, cuz it looks so brutal. I'm looking to tone myself a bit, make myself a bit more respectable.

Sorry to those with the bodybuilder body, I'm sure it's good to you, and in the end, that's all that matters.

And how much of my cash is lost in purchasing one of these? How much room do they take up?

Holding them across your chest is better than holding them across your chest.

Good Advice.

Jesse <Sarcasm, Sorry>

Mine is built into my bench-pressing bench. Gotta have that... might as well double as an all-purpose.

You're 18. You're supposed to be snotty. It's the law. I'm old and allowed to repeat myself. That's the law, too. You probably also know that the last clause was suppposed to read 'behind your head.' All is forgiven.