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Hey Ricky, I'm 18, 5'8" 165 lbs... i started working out about a month ago... i have a couple questions.... is there anyway to actually build you butt? and if so what exercises. Another question i have is why does it seem since I've been taking protein that my 6 pack is actually going away and my stomach looks bulky? When i train my abs the top ones look as if they are building outward and the lowers ones are staying in... What's up with that?
Ricky's Answer
There is definitely one exercise that you can do for your butt, lunges. Lunges should help. They are also good for building hamstrings. I'd suggest that you do the mat the end of your leg workout. 4-5 sets of lunges should be ok. Start off without any weight and do 20-25 reps. Add some weight and decrease your reps for the each following set. Don't take your reps below 12 until you get really good with this exercise. When you do any exercise for the first time, you really want to concentrate on your form to make sure it's perfect. If you don't know how to perform this exercise, talk with one of the more experienced bodybuilders or personal trainers at your gym, surely they can help you.
To answer your second question, your abs may be fading for a couple of reasons. You may beholding water from the protein you're taking in. Some protein supplements may allow you to hold some water and get a little bloated. I wouldn't worry about holding a little bit of water. You may just need to switch protein supplements and see what happens. With all the different types of protein out there, egg, whey, milk, casein, you may be on the wrong one for your body. Another reason your abs may be fading could be from an increase in body fat, due to an increased caloric intake. If you are eating more now than you were when you had your 6 pack nice and crisp, then it could definitely be from added body fat. If you are eating more because you want to add some mass to your physique, then add some cardio work to the mix to help you stay lean while you build muscle.This way, you won't lose your abs completely while trying to get bigger.
The most likely reason why your upper abs look like they're "building outward" is because when you train your abdominal muscles they get pumped and increase in size due to the blood that you are forcing into them. This is no different than any other muscle you train. I'm sure you've noticed that when you do a set of curls, your biceps become pumped. They feel tight and look bigger than normal. This is exactly what happens with your upper abs when you train them. I can only assume that you were doing crunches, since they work mostly the upper abdominal muscles. I'd throw some hanging leg raises into the mix to hit your lower abdominal muscles as well. That should balance things out a bit.
Thank you for your question and good luck to you!
Train Hard,
Ricky Gonzalez
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