Fitness Gurus...I need a little help

[laughing lioness]

I need an ab work-out but I can't lay on my back without extreme discomfort/pain and I can't bend or squat. Is there anything I can do outside of a gym?

 

I also need upper arm work (I turned 50 - ack!!). I have 5# dumbells and have been doing simple curls but is there anything that will firm fast?

[Mom-ninja.]

Planks. It will work abs and arms. Regular full plank, half plank (on elbows instead of hands), up and down planks, planks with leg raises, planks with rows, and so forth. That's what I think of off the top of my head.....but I am not a guru.

[Plink]

I have a fused spine which makes lying on the floor to do crunches is impossible for me. I found that I can still do my normal pre-surgery exercise routine as long as I use the right equipment. This ab chair has been perfect. I've had it for almost 10 years, and still love it.

[Hikin' Mama]

Planks were the first thing that came to my mind, too, for working abs. I've also taken ideas from Fitness Blender workouts on youtube. Many of the ab exercises are lying on the floor, but there are some that aren't. There are a lot of workouts there. You could get arm exercise ideas too. Good luck!

[tex-bex]

Kettle bells!

[Mom-ninja.]

Here is a Fitness Blender standing abs routine. You say can't bend and I'm not sure exactly how you can't bend, but you can watch this moves and decide which you can do. It seems the Captain Morgen with a medicine ball (or dumb bell) would be good. That's arms and abs and no bending.

 

Just browse around on Fitness Blender.com for abs and arms. There are lots. You can watch the ab moves and pick and choose which you can do. Also, have you tried doing ab moves on a physioball? Really takes the stress off the back. You might be able to do crunch type moves while on a ball. You do not have to rise you torso far for it to be effective when you're on a ball.

[laughing lioness]

Thank-you all. I should qualify- I can bend from the waist, but not really much at the knees. I'll be checking out these resources! Thank-you!

[Kim in Appalachia]

I second kettlebells. You should focus on swing workouts. Try this book . She also has DVD's . You just swing, and it really works your core, as well as tones your arms.

[laughing lioness]

Chekcking out kettleballs too- I like the Fitness Blender too!!

[LucyStoner]

The standing and sitting ab exercises should be good. Also, have you considered water aerobics or aqua zumba? Most include core exercises and your body can do more in the water generally.

[laughing lioness]

I love water but don't have access to a pool right now. Great idea, though!