AB strenghting

[MakinIT]

I've been reading about the ol' ab strengthing avoidance going on. I have to tell you ladies, the excercises my PT has drilled intomy head to do ab work had made such a difference to me. I have always avoided ab work, even before IC. hence, I lost a bunch of wieght and then had these really weak muscles. My PT's started me with simply laying on the bed and feeling my tummy harden around my belly button, while keeping the pelvic floor muscles relaxed. (yeah, ain't as easy as it sounds) We have slowly progressed over the past 4 months to where I am walking erect, being held by my tummy due to the very gradual increase in intensity and difficulty of exercises. (I now do about 100 bridges on my exercise ball and she gave me a new very hard one to do that is working those reallllllly weak muscles between my pubic bone and fat roll that hides my hysterectomy scars. Maybe it will help get rid of that last remaining roll of fat...although everyone says it takes a tummy tuck)

I absolutely hate ab work but it is the most important muscle group, along with Pelvic Floor, to do for we IC patients. helps to hold up the ol internal organs and keep us tall (well, my entire 5'3) and looking ahead instead of looking down at our feet and looking, well, like we are hurting and much older than we are.

She also has me doing leg presses, bike, stairmaster...but I couldn't do any of that 4 months ago I was so weak. They also worked ALOT on my balance (again, mostly ab and lower back, butt work) because it is so awful. I hated it, but now I'm glad we did it because it has made life so much easier. I can actually stand on one leg now and I couldn't for 15 years due to my year I was paralyzed.

Good luck all. It hasn't cured my pain but makes me feel like I have a piece of control in my life.

Tracey

[ICchell]

tracey,
thats awesome that you are working out...i have the exercise ball to...dont ya love it??...you can do so many ex.on that ball,you can work your whole body.


i just got back into the gym myself...been away from it for to long!

Good Luck!Stay healthy!:thumbsup: