Does Training Abs Give You A Thick Waist?

Ladies, I’m sure we can all agree that there is plenty of health and fitness information floating around on the internet that can be confusing. While different things may work for different people, sometimes it’s more simple than that, and an article you read might be based on information that is outdated, or that has been understood incorrectly. Part of my responsibility as a trainer is to help you navigate all of these different pieces of information, and separate the facts from the myths about getting abs.

Find out:

• Can you get abs without a thick waist?
• Should you stop training your abs?
• What role does nutrition play?

Just as we’ve talked about the idea that working out with weights won’t necessarily make you look bulky, today I want to explain that training abs doesn’t mean you’re going to get a thick waist. 

Brace yourselves ladies, because I’m going to break it down for you. 

Can you get abs without a thick waist?

It might sound like a silly question, but it really isn’t! Remember that your abdominals are a muscle, which means that they can grow as a result of your training. As you ladies know (or should know, because I say it ALL the time), you can lift weights without adding bulk, and it can help with weight loss too. If you are trying to gain lots of muscle, then you need to put in a lot of effort and regularly lift heavy weights. 

With that in mind, some of you might be thinking that adding weights to your ab workouts is going to speed up your weight loss results and lead to a thinner waist. What you need to remember here is that little fact I mentioned earlier: your abdominals are muscle! Your waist is made up of muscle, and those muscles can respond to heavy weights by growing bigger. After doing heavily weighted exercises for an extended period of time, it may lead to a broader, or ‘thicker-looking’, waist. 
 

So, should you stop doing ab exercises if you want a small waist? 

In short, no. A strong core is always important, because it is part of your body’s foundation. A lot of your strength comes from your core, so ab exercises should still be a part of your training plan. 

The important thing to keep in mind is your personal fitness goals. If you want a toned stomach with visible abs, but you want a slim waist as well, then there are particular types of exercises, when used as part of a overall fitness plan, that may work better for those goals. For example, a combination of planks, resistance and body weight exercises. These exercises can be fantastic for improving core strength and stability, without putting extra loading on your muscles and causing hypertrophy (muscle growth). 

My programs in the Sweat app include ab workouts as part of an overall training plan. They are designed to help you increase core strength and progressively become stronger using both bodyweight and weighted exercises. 

What about nutrition?

What you eat is always important when you’re training, so don’t shrug off the importance of a good diet. If staying lean or getting a flat stomach is one of your goals, then take a look at what you are eating. 

And one more thing, ladies. Remember that our bodies are not identical! How your body responds to training won’t necessarily be the same as your friend’s. Our age and genetics can make a big difference in the appearance of our midsection, so don’t get caught up in comparisons.

With the right training and nutrition you can develop abs without getting a thick waist

I hope this has helped you to understand a little bit more about working out your abdominals. If there are any other ab-related topics you want me to write about, let me know in the comments!

Love, Kayla xx