I'm not a lady of routine; I don't do crunches religiously. I go to kickboxing once a week and might run a couple times a week. I don't really bodybuild or weight train or anything, but my main concern is this: whenever I do crunches, or the plank, or generally any exercise that works the rectus abdominis the way crunches do, my midsection turns into this hideous mound-like thing. I don't know how else to better explain it except through pictures. I know that I have to work on strengthening all my other muscles (internal/external obliques and transversus abdominis), which will probably help to alleviate this, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever had or seen this before? Which exercises would be best, and should I work on strengthening one set more than the others?

at rest


crunching


crunching again


my view when I crunch

The way my abs bunch up into a tight mound like that is profoundly disturbing!! It just doesn't look normal at all! Please help me fix it...?

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I personally think that that is belly fat rather than the muscle making that shape. Just my two cents.

You look to be in pretty good shape

Reduce body fat and they will appear much more flat.

Not looking too bad anway

Yeah that's what I'm focusing on right now! Cutting down on bad foods, eating more protein-rich foods and being more active so I can burn that junk.. but only about half an inch of that mound is fat, otherwise it's rock-solid underneath... haha well I'll work harder on getting rid of my pooch and see if that helps anything. I hope it does :/ Thanks!

My stomach muscles used to do a very similar thing years ago when I was much more fit. Particular your last picture...that was the exact view I'd see when I'd do crunches.

My wholly uneducated guess is that only one section of your abs is strong? Maybe if you worked other sections of your abdomen the muscles along the middle would be less pronounced?

Just a guess! Maybe something to google, reasearch, etc.

Yeah, that's what I'm guessing is only those muscles are strong and I need to really work the other sections more. I'm finding new exercises to work them, and hoping that sets things straight.. glad to hear that someone else in the world has seen that view before!! I think it's just so unnatural-looking.. it worries me sometimes haha

I agree...that's a little bit of fat, not the muscle..I also agree you look good... In a totally non-creepy-old-man way LOL

I see the same thing when I look down during crunches. It actually feels very firm during except for some loose skin down low from carrying two 9+ pound babies in there during a lifeltime. I am sure the guys are right about reducing body fat and it will look better. I always think of the movie Alien when the thing popped out of the guys stomach - GROSS!