Tummy sticks out when doing abs exercises?

[FluffyJumper]

I find that whenever I do any kind of intense abs exercises my tummy sticks out. It's like the muscles go solid but protruding.

Doing the Shred and find that when doing anything like push ups, plank etc Jillian will say that your abs should be tight, but I just can't seem to hold my stomach in and exercise.

Am I building some kind of hideous blocky core? What's going on? Anyone else find this?

Google diastasis recti. Is it that?

Have you had a baby? You may have abdominal separation. I get a hard egg of muscle pop up when I do a sit up.

I mentioned it to my gynecologist. She told me to do more rotational core exercises and avoid sit ups. There is a rotational device at my gym and I use that. She told me to put a broom handle over my shoulders, hook my arms and turn from side to side across the body. Also to do side crunches whilst holding a towel tight across my waist.

You can look up exercises for abdominal separation online, but i would recommend booking a session with a physio for some advice?

I was told that the extreme alternative is to have the muscles stitched correctly into place. I am pressing on with the exercise for the moment.

Thanks for the answers. Have had a baby but remember feeling this when pre child.

So do most people (women) find that they can hold their stomach in when doing a push up?

You know, I think that might be it! I weigh less than pre pregnancy, but no matter how hard I pull my stomach in I never seem to be able to get that concave look any more, had put it down to age!

when I had pilates lessons I was shown how to flatten my abdomen, I think it's the transverse abdominis that you need to be able to pull in (??)
If I dont pull this is I would have a bit of a bulge when I did a crunch but I automatically pull in as I exhale on the effort.

A good pilates teacher would be able to help you with this.
Failing that you could look on you tube for beginner pilates exercises