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Monica,

Yes Monica, daily workouts for just one set of muscles can indeed be counter-productive.  This includes abdominals.  Basically muscles heal and strengthen through chemical processes which require from 36 to 48 hours to complete.   The harder the workout, the longer the muscle takes to recover and further strengthen.  If  your muscle is attacked again within 24 hours, it will not heal and strengthen properly.  Also if non-steroids are used to cut down the soreness and inflammation of overworked muscles they will heal but not gain strength as much as they would have. 

Here is a generic plan for abdominal strengthening, but I would entreat you not to concentrate all your energies on just your belly muscles but consider that all your large muscles are really chained together and they count on each other to be equally strong.

Great question, hurrah for your enthusiasm.

Thanks, George Dixon, MD

ABDOMINAL MUSCLE STRENGTHENING

Your abdominal muscles are the ones which hold you upright comfortably, along with your back muscles. There are several sets of muscles which criss-cross and weave around your trunk to add strength and stability. They are rather like a barrel in construction. I thought you might like some ideas about holding your pantry up and in. 

This exercise used to be called a sit-up. Many people still can and will do them, but for daily use the so-called "crunch" is as effective and less likely to strain muscles.  Lying on your back, knees bent, put your arms down at your sides, palm down.  Note where your fingertips are resting.   Raise your chest, head and neck up enough so that your shoulder blades just touch the floor and your fingertips move forward no less than 2-3 inches (no cheating by lowering your shoulders!) Lie back down.  Repeat up to 12 times. 

Now, to reverse crunch, lie on your back, knees bent, and bring your bent legs up almost to your chest and let them back down slowly to touch the ground.  Repeat up to 12 times. 

To work the criss-cross muscles, lie on your back, knees bent, and while "crunching up" bring your right elbow toward your left bent knee.  Then do the left elbow to the right knee.  10 times. 

Turn over to your abdomen.  Put a small towel under your chin, cheek or forehead to keep your neck comfortable as you turn it to the side.  Lift your straight left arm overhead and your straight right leg toward the ceiling, 10 times.  Repeat with your right arm and left leg.  This one works the backside of your trunk muscles.  Roll over and get up slowly and carefully as your blood pressure will need a moment to reorganize.

(More help available in "Exercise a la Carte" at your bookstore or call 800-624-4952)

George Dixon MD