My abs do not look normal to me. I am completely missing my upper abs due to the fact that my ribs stick out very far. It doesn't look good at all and I want to try to fix this. It's sad when your ribs stick out almost past your boobs I am so jealous of girls who look normal and have a nice set of abs. I feel like it's impossible for me because I have this weird deformity. Is there anything I should be doing to correct this or am I basically genetically ****ed?
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Thread: extreme rib flare
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03-05-2015, 06:53 AM #1
extreme rib flare
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03-05-2015, 11:44 AM #2
Hi,
I didn't want to read and run. My rib cage looks exactly the same, but I don't think it will/does effect the look of your abs much, so don't worry. Are you hoping to do fitness modelling or similar? I am just getting fit for myself, so I am not worried about this aspect.
Anyway, not much advise, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone!
Lana
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03-05-2015, 12:58 PM #3
I have been looking into it and from what I have read I may have some anterior pelvic tilt going on. I have been having some very specific problems lately and this kind of explains it all.
I read that anterior pelvic tilt would cause your legs to internally rotate and I have been having difficulty squatting without this happening! I figured it was due to weak hips and glutes so I began doing some glute-specific exercises as well as making a conscious effort to keep my knees apart while I squat.
I also suffered a minor low back injury a couple months ago which happened during deadlifting. I had been suffering with a dull ache in that area prior to the injury. With anterior pelvic tilt your back is always tight which would explain the pain. After that I began doing the glute-specific exercises my glutes would not fire during squats or deadlifts and other muscles were taking over. Now that I have been doing the glute work I can feel them fire but I have to concentrate on it. It's always going to be something I have to work on to develop a better mind-muscle connection.
I am perhaps not fully engaging my abs as well. They are most likely loose and inactive due to my back being so tightened. I do planks and I have been doing them in the mirror to make sure my spine is straight. My entire body shakes while doing them! Right now, in order for me to stand correctly with my hips and ribs "tucked in" it feels like I must constantly squeeze my butt together. This could explain why I can't do any standing overhead presses--they just hurt my back because I can't keep my pelvis tucked and I'm not engaging my glutes or core very well.
Wow! I really learned a lot about myself today! I'm curious if anyone else has this problem and what you did to fix it.
I am not wanting to be a fitness model or anything. Apparently this is NOT just cosmetic and could hinder progress or cause injury.
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03-05-2015, 05:37 PM #4
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I looked at your pictures and don't see anything wrong with your rib cage.
I'd say the majority of people in the Western world have some degree anterior pelvic tilt. Product of the lifestyle we lead. Some reading material: http://www.jandaapproach.com/the-jan...das-syndromes/Olympus Labs Representative
Olympus Lyfestyle: https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/olympus-lyfestyle.html
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03-06-2015, 06:40 AM #5
Judging by your pictures, I'd also say your rib cage and abdomen look perfectly normal.
If you've got pelvic tilt problems, it would show itself in some other form most likely (i.e. pain). Severe pelvic tilt can really screw up your bone structure, so if you do think that's an issue, I would go see a spinal specialist or orthopaedic doctor. But if you're not having any pain from it, I wouldn't worry about it.
You don't look abnormal at all.Food Scientist
Former ballet dancer
Wanting to see what this body is capable of!
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03-06-2015, 09:03 AM #6
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03-07-2015, 12:34 AM #7
I think you look good! :O You don't seem like you have any sort of "deformity" and I think you are criticizing yourself too much.
I have scoliosis and uneven ribs, so my left rib cage pretty much sticks out like yours but my right one is flatter, and I also have an uneven waistline (my upper torso looks like it's leaning to the right ). It makes me feel so bad about myself but we've got to realize we can't really do anything naturally to change our skeletal structure other than our posture.
You can still look good without looking like someone else, and don't worry so much over how much your ribs stick out because eventually you will look really amazing and you won't even notice it anymore :P
About the tilt thing, do you have bowed legs?? I have bowed legs (only my calves) and lunges are so hard to do because my knees just go more towards my middle the lower I go down. I don't have issues with squats because I usually do wider-stance squats. Again, there's nothing you can do if it's bowed legs, but def if it's a posture problem.Bulking & Lifting :)
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03-07-2015, 12:40 AM #8
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Are you doing any weighted ab exercises? That combined with lower bf will help bring them out. And also obliques. Hope this helps
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03-07-2015, 07:00 AM #9
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03-09-2015, 06:10 AM #10
I don't think it's severe. It may only be a slight APT.
Maybe it is a situation where I look at other women's abs and they have super-defined upper abs and mine just don't look like that because of the bone sticking out. I know I can't look exactly like someone else but it would be nice to have a full set of abs.
The sad thing is is that my bodyfat is pretty high and they still stick out. I don't really do any oblique work (maybe that's the issue I don't know) but I do planks, leg raises, weighted decline crunches etc. I only work my abs twice a week with three sets of one exercise.
Thanks!
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03-11-2015, 06:19 AM #11
You shouldn't compare yourself to girls with super defined abs because they most likely have lower body fat levels than you.
You even stated that your body fat is high so there is really no point or anything beneficial about comparing yourself to someone at a different fat level, it'll only bring you stress.
I have a small issue with comparing myself as well (mostly the glutes, since I'm Asian and mine are just naturally smaller ) but that's not very healthy to do and I avoid doing it/stop myself once I catch myself starting to.
I strongly believe that even people with even more extremely flared or jutting ribcages than can have visible abs as long as they are lean enough. Just focus on being a better you, even if it means you don't have abs like someone else :PBulking & Lifting :)
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03-11-2015, 08:49 AM #12
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03-11-2015, 01:18 PM #13
I didn't see any frontal pics in your profile but from what I could see from the others is that you just don't carry that much muscle in your abs for them to stick out further than your ribs.
Some people can get great ab development with no direct ab work, some need a lot of direct...
Add some weighted decline sit ups, and hanging leg raises a few times a week, at least 3 sets of 12-15 each, as long as you're eating enough you should see some muscle growth.
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12-17-2020, 10:18 PM #14
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