How do I tone the middle bits?!

[Nadine216]

I don't want to be the sad sack in the bunch, but I just wanted to say that you can't "spot" train I mean that if you want to have a nice firm belly, you first need to lose the weight to SHOW how hard you worked for it. It's not going to help that you have this rock hard abs, but there are a layer of fat over them, kwim.

Personally, I LOVE ab work. It was the hardest when I started, but atm it's my fav thing to exercise. Fav piece of equipment - EXERCISE BALL!!!!!!!!!!! You can combine pillates and/or yoga with it and it really helps to firm up all that "little" mucels. Even if you start by just sitting on it when you are on the phone (or online BB'ing :P ) that would help. By strengthing your core, you instantly look slimmer, because your posture is better.

I think a good one for the baby belly would be this:
Lay on your back with your arms at your side. Place the exerciseball between your feet. Lift your legs straight in the air. You toes should be parallel to the floor and legs 90 deg to the floor and STRAIGHT. Suck in your tummy - navel to spine, while keeping your lower back pressed to the floor. Gently squeeze the ball with your feet (I do this, then I work that stubborn little inner-thigh-fat at the same time, but for a start you could only hold it) Now CONSENTRATE ON YOUR BURNING ABS while you breath steady in and out. Keep position for 30 counts, repeat 3 times. It works the "pouch" area in the abs. If the ball throws you off, you can do it without the ball. Just keep your legs straight and feet toghter and CONSENTRATE.

Also laying on the floor with your arms straight out above your head and your legs straight and ball inbetween your feet. Nice and long. Lift your legs up in the air while breathing out (yes the ball too) and when they are 90 deg angle (breath in), bring your head, arms and shoulder up (breath out) and take the ball from your feet (breath in). Slowly lower your legs (breath out) (breath in) and lower your arms, head and shoulders (breath out)
HECTIC exercise - I still have trouble doing it, only because it works SOOOOO good on your abs.

For your butt - I have yet to find a better exercise than the donkey kick-up and it's various other forms.
On all fours, fore-arms on the floor. Lift one leg up till in line with your bottom, bend knie (90deg angle) NOW, while consentrating on your butt and not letting your hips fall to one side, try keeping your hips steady, kick (by kick I mean squeeze your butt and lift your leg up, not just kicking and using the momentum) up to the sky. I think you can start with 3 reps of 15 each leg. YES your leg that is on the ground will cramp up, but that is GOOD, then the exercise is working.
Any form or this exercise will shape your bottom. Keeping your leg straight and lifting it upwards, is also good, lifting it up to the side (like a dog doing it's bussines on a tree) is FAB for those love handles. You can kick up (leg straight) in a 45 deg angle, also great for the bottom and love handles.
You can drape yourself over the ball, your navel in the centre of the ball, your arms under your shoulders, in a push-up position,. and your toes only lightly touching the floor. Squeeze buttocks, feet flexed, toes down to ground and lift legs up. Keep in that position.

And an all time fav - SQUATS and LUNGES!!! Boring, but so effective it will make you sick Make sure your knees never goes past your toes and your won't hurt yourself. Do lots and do them slowly while consentrating on the mucle you are working.

HTH - Good luck
BTW, your weight loss is impressive!!! Congratulations. I read your blog and you are an insperation!!