Sucking your stomach in

[TempestTenor]

Is it normal human anatomy to at least partially suck one's stomach in while walking?

I used to suck my stomach in a lot in my teens because I was ashamed of my gut. I've gotten over that feeling now, but every once in a while (when I consciously think about it) I catch myself partially sucking my stomach in while walking. I can't tell if this is a bad habit or if it's a normal function of the abs. Thoughts?

[holvoetn]

I'd say that's a bad habit since the best way (deepest) of breathing is using your diaphragm/belly, even when walking.

[sgtrock]

I'd say that's a bad habit since the best way (deepest) of breathing is using your diaphragm/belly, even when walking.

I think there's a tradeoff here. I had the exact same problem as a teen (still, in a way, but not as much) and I was extremely self-conscious about it. I also played the saxophone and had to learn how to breathe properly. I recall reading in a ventriloquism book at the school library -- wow, over 20 years ago now??? dammit I'm old... -- that deep diaphragmatic breathing takes in 2-2.5 times the volume of air as pure chest breathing. Confirmed that ten years later in martial arts.

At the same time you don't want your gut hanging out without any ab tension, because that will cause lower back pain. Again, speaking from experience.

I think if you are subconsciously "sucking your gut in", but at the same time you can breathe through your diaphragm, you should be in balance. I'm no scientist or doctor, but this "feels right" to me. You need the ab tension to help stabilize your upper body for movement, but you also need it to be flexible enough to breathe properly. If you can put your hand on your chest and your belly button, and when you breathe in the hand on your belly button goes out farther than the one on your chest, then you are breathing correctly. If you are still pulling in your stomach while doing this, you should be fine I would think.

[TempestTenor]

I'm going through the same thing you did, sgtrock, not as a saxophone player, but as a singer.

I feel that it's natural to have my abs tensed somewhat for support while walking. I'm not really "sucking my gut" in by tensing my abs, but it does have a side effect of making my gut look slightly smaller.

Too little tension and, like you said, you're bordering on lordosis. Too much tension and you're not breathing efficiently. What to do???

[sgtrock]

I say experiment with what works, and if later you feel it doesn't quite work, throw it out and try something else. That's what everybody else does.

[Subsistence]

I think it normal to tighten your stomach mildly. If I am not thinking and just look in the mirror, my stomach is slightly tense so that, if I purposefully relax it, it expands more and back curves more and if I purposefully contract it it sucks in.

I think I have lordosis to some extent though, so I am not sure if that changes my situation.

[FilthyMcNasty]

I dunno about "sucking in" my stomach. I try and keep a mild tension flexed in my abs/core as I move around but this is to help with a back problem (it's been helpful btw).
I think we all do things to try and downplay areas we feel under confident in. If you're eating big enough to grow muscle strength you may not maintain a flat stomach profile, but if this is balanced by good development in your body, strong legs, broad shoulders etc, then you are less likely to look like your on the slippery slide to middle age...btw I remeber the first time I could say "I remember this song the first time round from 20 years ago and the original is better" what a shock horror!!