# What's the best way to tone a stomach without buying anyting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353 "2010-07-20T15:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/21 "2010-07-21T21:58:37Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > Diet is the main factor in what your abs look like. Genetics are secondary, and the type of exercise you do doesn’t matter much. This is the correct answer. When it comes to losing weight, diet is much more important than exercise. Lose the weight, and your abs will look much better… ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/22 "2010-07-21T22:27:23Z")
Your abs might look flat, maybe even “firm” (depending on how old you are and how big your gut has ever been) if you lose enough weight, but it’s not like we all have a 6-pack hiding under a layer of fat. The idea is ridiculous. Your bicep isn’t bulging and well-defined if you never work it, and neither are your abs. Again, there are no shortcuts (outside of picking the right parents), and there is no “single-path” approach. You’re not going to have a 6-pack unless you’re A: a \< 1 in a million genetic freak, or B: you eat sensibly AND hypertrophize your abs AND do cardio work. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/23 "2010-07-22T04:48:02Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > [In spirit of this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=571281) > > I would guess the obvious choices are sit ups and crunches, but there are a lot of flavors of those exercises. > > Let’s discuss exercises that helped you the most? Are you a chick or a dude? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/24 "2010-07-22T05:45:33Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > This is the correct answer. > > When it comes to losing weight, diet is much more important than exercise. Over the past few years I haven’t altered my diet in any respect. My weight has gone up or down solely depending on the amount I’ve exercise I’ve engaged in. Admittedly though, I’m talking about a small weight range (+/- 7 or 8 pounds), maybe it’s different if you’re trying to shift a load. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/25 "2010-07-22T11:47:38Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Over the past few years I haven’t altered my diet in any respect. My weight has gone up or down solely depending on the amount I’ve exercise I’ve engaged in. > > Admittedly though, I’m talking about a small weight range (+/- 7 or 8 pounds), maybe it’s different if you’re trying to shift a load. Do you think this in any way invalidates what he said? Nobody said, or ever would, that exercise doesn’t play a role in weight loss. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/26 "2010-07-22T13:20:08Z")
A lot depends on what is meant by “toned” - a six pack may not be what is desired, perhaps the poster just wants the good posture tone rather than the paunch that occurs no matter what your body fat percentage with the slouch of shoulders rounded forward and back swayed forward? And for that I’d add in one in which you stand back against a wall, heels, butt, shoulder blades, and head all touching the wall, and then, holding all of them there make the small of your back go flat against the wall and hold it ten seconds or so, then still holding it (head to heels all flat against the wall) raise your arms up along the wall from your side to above your head, not letting the small of the back open back up. Try it. Its harder than it sounds and a great way to strengthen and stretch a variety of core muscles all at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/27 "2010-07-22T13:56:39Z")
The link below includes results from a study in 2001 to find the best ab exercises. > **[BestWorstAbExercises.pdf](https://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/BestWorstAbExercises.pdf)** > > 386.34 KB ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/28 "2010-07-22T15:11:15Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > And for that I’d add in one in which you stand back against a wall, heels, butt, shoulder blades, and head all touching the wall, and then, holding all of them there make the small of your back go flat against the wall and hold it ten seconds or so, then still holding it (head to heels all flat against the wall) raise your arms up along the wall from your side to above your head, not letting the small of the back open back up. Just tried it - seems really good. But, “baby got back,” so I am unable to stand flat against the wall. Is it just as effective if I do it with my feet a few inches away (so my heels aren’t touching the wall, but everything else is)? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/29 "2010-07-22T15:51:06Z")
> [@Blue\_Mood](#): > > Just tried it - seems really good. But, “baby got back,” so I am unable to stand flat against the wall. Is it just as effective if I do it with my feet a few inches away (so my heels aren’t touching the wall, but everything else is)? So long as you are getting as close as you can as you do it. **x-ray** , thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/30 "2010-07-24T14:59:57Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Do you think this in any way invalidates what he said? > > Nobody said, or ever would, that exercise doesn’t play a role in weight loss. But my point is that exercise played the ONLY role in mine. My diet was utterly irrelevant and the amount of exercise I did was crucial. I certainly do think that runs contrary to the statement that “diet is much more important than exercise”. Otherwise I wouldn’t have said it :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/31 "2010-07-24T15:03:30Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > But my point is that exercise played the ONLY role in mine. My diet was utterly irrelevant and the amount of exercise I did was crucial. I certainly do think that runs contrary to the statement that “diet is much more important than exercise”. Otherwise I wouldn’t have said it :rolleyes: Your diet wasn’t utterly irrelevant. I assure you, if you had gone on the all-lard diet or started pounding down 20 double cheeseburgers per day, you would have noticed some weight gain. Your diet was only irrelevant insofar as you didn’t personally have to worry about it, because you were already eating an appropriate amount of food for weight loss once you added in some exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/32 "2010-07-24T15:21:52Z")
We have hashed this out in other discussions. Summarizing: For the average person, a permanent modification to the diet is a much more realistic and effective way to lose weight vs. exercise. Studies have proven this. We are not saying \*not \*to exercise; quite the contrary, exercise is good for you. We are also not saying exercise does not contribute to weight loss; since exercise burns calories, it can certainly contribute to weight loss. What we’re saying is that, for the average Joe living an average life, permanent weight loss is primarily achieved via a permanent modification of the diet. Exercise is secondary. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/33 "2010-07-24T15:39:10Z")
For core strength, I’m a big fan of [planks](http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm). It won’t help with fat reduction, but a nice strong core is a good thing to have. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/34 "2010-07-24T18:40:08Z")
Running is out since it requires good running shoes & the OP stipulates not having to buy anything. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/35 "2010-07-24T18:43:06Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > Running is out since it requires good running shoes & the OP stipulates not having to buy anything. It absolutely does not. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/36 "2010-07-24T18:55:16Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > Running is out since it requires good running shoes & the OP stipulates not having to buy anything. Besides, walking will give you most of the benefits of running (albeit taking more time exercising) and you can pretty much do that in anything comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/37 "2010-07-24T19:09:02Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@NetTrekker](#): > > > > Running is out since it requires good running shoes & the OP stipulates not having to buy anything. > > Besides, walking will give you most of the benefits of running (albeit taking more time exercising) and you can pretty much do that in anything comfortable. It absolutely will not. There is no anaerobic effect from walking-- there’s hardly any aerobic benefit. There is no impact benefit (yes, high impact exercise is good for you, despite what elliptical machine marketers want you to think. It strengthens your bones.) Walking is better than sitting on the couch, but it’s hardly exercise, unless you’re walking several miles at a very brisk pace, and if you can do that, you can run. If you think you need fancy running shoes, [read this.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html) > [@](#): > > In a paper for the British Journal Of Sports Medicine last year, Dr Craig Richards, a researcher at the University of Newcastle in Australia, revealed there are no evidence-based studies that demonstrate running shoes make you less prone to injury. Not one. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/38 "2010-07-24T19:12:10Z")
Here’s another quote, from the same article: > [@](#): > > Runners wearing top-of-the-line trainers are 123 per cent more likely to get injured than runners in cheap ones. This was discovered as far back as 1989, according to a study led by Dr Bernard Marti, the leading preventative-medicine specialist at Switzerland’s University of Bern. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/39 "2010-07-24T21:09:56Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > … What we’re saying is that, for the average Joe living an average life, permanent weight loss is primarily achieved via a permanent modification of the diet. Exercise is secondary. Yet for _health_ both are important, while weight loss, less so. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353/40 "2010-07-24T21:12:55Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > … What we’re saying is that, for the average Joe living an average life, permanent weight loss is primarily achieved via a permanent modification of the diet. Exercise is secondary. > > Yet for _health_ both are important, while weight loss, less so. Great point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-tone-a-stomach-without-buying-anyting/547353.md?page=3)