Any tricks for tightening up muscles faster?

[Bob]

I think it's called 'tonus' of the muscle, muscle tone.  Where you don't have to firm up the muscle yourself.  It just stays that way.

With abs.  I do some sit ups.  Then I notice my abs tighten up a little. 


Is there any way to make that happen faster?  Is it higher capacity/load for lifting?  More reps?  Distributed practice?  Holding a tightened muscle position vs. continuous movement?

Although anything will probably do it.  I'm wondering what's most efficient.

[faulty_damper]

Are you looking to bulk up?  If so, then fast repetitions is the appropriate course of action.

However, I'm not a physiologist so I can't tell you the mechanisms as to why this works.

[Bob]

I'd like my abs to stay in place a little more by themselves. 

[unholeee]

tickle torture.

[faulty_damper]

I don't know your current physical shape so I can't offer advice tailored to you.  However, in my case, I jog.  I dance and the one activity I did that noticeably improved my form was jogging.  I noticed a rather significant difference in just a week of jogging where my torso was much more stable.  It didn't feel stronger, just more stable and my dancing improved because of it.  I don't know if this is what you mean by "stay in place a littler more."

[Bob]

I'll be seated and have to suck in my gut.  To think about that.  If I do some sit ups or crunches, etc. it stays tightened up by itself.  If there were a simpler way to do that...

[faulty_damper]

I would like to add that doing sit ups and crunches doesn't do anything for my dancing.  In fact, I haven't noticed any improvement to my form by doing them so I've stopped.  Only jogging helps.  I think this is because the "core" is comprised of stomach, obliques, and back muscles, all of which are engaged during jogging.  Sit ups only work the stomach muscles so there is a disparity in strength.

As for your situation, what is your percentage of body fat?  Do you have a large gut because of the fat or because of the intestines?

[Bob]

Haha.  I don't have a large gut.  I have flexible abs from playing wind instruments.

[faulty_damper]

The thing with muscles is that you can't really shorten them (tightening them) unless they are in a state of constant shortness.  (I wish I could say that better.)  For example, women who walk in high heels will have shorter calf muscles than if they wore flats.

So in your case, you might be able to achieve the same thing if you are constantly hunched over for a few weeks.  I don't think this is feasible.