So heavy lifting strengthens core muscles?

[deer_dance9]

doing squats and deadlifts help strengthen the core as well as situps and ab exercises, but what if i dont entirely want to do the heavy leg lifting, is there any other way to strengthen core, such as doing curls and such using a balancing ball or something?

[DianaB]

Why would you NOT want to work the largest and strongest muscle group of the body hard?
Hmm let's see, work legs hard and heavy, gain increase in OVERALL strength and lean tissue, more lean tissue=greater fat burning capabilities.
Sounds win win to me.
Or you could do curls all day on a wobble board and stay fat.
Your choice.

[HOUSTON TEXAN]

Yeah it helps strengthen your core but you do need to do some abs exercises otherwise your compound lifts will go to crap.

[Dixon]

doing squats and deadlifts help strengthen the core as well as situps and ab exercises, but what if i dont entirely want to do the heavy leg lifting, is there any other way to strengthen core, such as doing curls and such using a balancing ball or something?

There are lots of ways to strengthen your core without doing "heavy lifting" just think of about any "ab" or "core" training exercise out there. However these exercises usually only work a small amount of muscles and do very little for burning fat. These heavy lifts that you mention, on the other hand strengthen your core and just about all of the rest of the muscles in your body as well as burn a lot of fat.

So no you don't need to do things like squats and deadlifts to strengthen your core, however they are a good tool for killing many birds with one stone.

[swanso5]

the body works as a unit so train it like one, not in isolation

deer dance i think you may be afraid of a little hard work

[deer_dance9]

the body works as a unit so train it like one, not in isolation

deer dance i think you may be afraid of a little hard work

its just i work a construction job, i cant afford to be sore the next day after a work out... things wont go good telling the boss that i cant lift that im a little sore. so i need fresh muscles every day. im really not looking to gain lots of muscle weight just tone up the muscle that's there and lose a little bit of fat

[swanso5]

i'm hardly ever sore and i never isolate...keep your vol low and you'll be fine

and eat more

[vamp]

Deer Dance, if your sore you did it wrong or you misjudged your capabilities which you could do on the job anyway. As for sore muscles the next day.... do as swanso said, eat healthy and stretch. Not only that, don't lift heavy every day, get some cardio in as well.

cheers