Daily Post--2/13/08

Posting a bit early these next few days as I get ready to go out of town for the marathon... Many of us started out journey with bad backs and flabby abs... What type of exercises do you do to help strengthen your abs and lower back? Lea

Lea I'll have to let you know that after this hip surgery, the back maybe doing better. Joni

I do crunches on the exercise ball and I use the total gym. When I look at myself I don't see my abs or anything but I know I don;'t have the sore back like before so maybe it's helping. Michelle

I do the Total Gym and horseback riding.

I haven't been, I need to.... Maybe i should listen to everyone elses ideas and get on it!!!! Krissy

I have used my AB lounge...seems to have helped me alot...since the weight loss, my back has improved drastically.

Not there yet, but I'll probably be doing lots of crunches in the near future.

OMG I am such a terrible loser I have not been doing anything yet!! I want to buy some exercise videos and I want to join the gym but its all linked to when we have the money. Kellie

Indoor bike 7-14 miles or treadmill w/incline for 35 mins. 5X per week, 2 leg machines 4X10 reps, 2 arm machines 4X10 reps, seated bench press 4X10 reps. Actually just losing weight helped my stressed lower back... the bike worked really well for this... I've introduced toning more recently... it's amazing how quickly one builds up... and it's fun!!! It's social and a GREAT stress-buster if you're overworked!!!

The majority of my workouts are at the gym. I do a combo of cardio and strength training. I rotate which areas of my body that I do the weight training on--upper or lower--and with either routine, I also do some "back" machines. Abs also get targeted on both "upper" and "lower" days.