abs getting bigger/stronger, but not toned

[depo12]

just as the title says.....

i've been working my abs 3 times a week and they're definitely getting stronger and bigger, but it doesn't seem like they're getting that toned...i think it's making my stomach look bigger/fatter....any recommendations? or am i just nuts?

[OldHabitsDieEZ]

i think you know by now that it is a bodyfat issue ... look at your diet/caloric intake to ensure you're making progress towards losing bodyfat

[DarinK]

Get your bodyfat down. I work abs once a week. It's mostly diet to get those abs.

[Negatron617]

if you havent any of the fat covering the abs...and you simply added ab mass and made then bigger....its logical that your stomach will look bigger w/o your abs being toned..
you have to lose the fat

[peelowg2k]

I would just cut your carbs some, and if u doing cardio add like 10minutes to the cardio u already doing, but mainly cut some carbs, I'm having the same problem, but cutting the carbs has helped like dont eat carbs before u go to bed, and maybe if u can do cardio in the morning on an empty, this works because your body don't have any food to get energy from , so it has to grab energy from the fat on your body..Good Luck

[qwerty1234]

ya--body fat % issue.
I have huge abs--but they don't show (I can see the outline though) but my bodyfat % is about 16% or so.

Its all about diet--cut the carbs down, get to a lower bodyfat % and youll see them no problem.
I work abs about 5min everyday-just a generic routine of weighted crunches, various oblique crunches/other style crunches.


pz

[depo12]

well the thing is, i can't really go too low on the carbs right now..i'm not sure if that may change soon but as of now the lowest i can go is a 30/50/20 ratio, which is about 250g carbs per day...is that too high to lose fat??

[garlichead]

well the thing is, i can't really go too low on the carbs right now..i'm not sure if that may change soon but as of now the lowest i can go is a 30/50/20 ratio, which is about 250g carbs per day...is that too high to lose fat??

If that's protein/carbs/fat, I would increase protein and fats and reduce carbs, just a thought.

[niiick]

and maybe if u can do cardio in the morning on an empty, this works because your body don't have any food to get energy from,

or muscle.

[depo12]

If that's protein/carbs/fat, I would increase protein and fats and reduce carbs, just a thought.

it is protein/carbs/fat....i was doing a 40/40/20 ratio but i had to cut back on protein for now b/c of a health thing...so now i'm 30/50/20

[patsie]

I've noticed that before I can see my abs individually, I have a weird rectangular gut. It's pretty hideous, but that's what happens when you have abs and fat. It should become more pleasant once you cut the fat, though.

[depo12]

I've noticed that before I can see my abs individually, I have a weird rectangular gut. It's pretty hideous, but that's what happens when you have abs and fat. It should become more pleasant once you cut the fat, though.

i'm trying =/ ...this new ratio sucks lol