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Does Sucking in Your Stomach Help? The Truth Uncovered

Does Sucking in Your Stomach Help? The Truth Uncovered

Is Sucking in Your Stomach Actually Beneficial?

We've all done it—standing in front of a mirror, sucking in our stomachs, trying to look a little slimmer. Maybe you’ve even caught yourself holding it in during the day, especially when wearing tight clothes. But does sucking in your stomach actually help in any way? Or is it just an illusion?

The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. I was chatting with my friend Jake (who’s a personal trainer), and he swore that "engaging your core is different from just sucking it in." That got me thinking—maybe there’s more to this than just aesthetics.

Let’s break it down.

The Effects of Sucking in Your Stomach

1. Does It Strengthen Your Core?

Well, yes… and no. If you’re just sucking in your stomach (like trying to make your waist look smaller), you’re not really activating your core muscles effectively. What you're doing is:

  • Engaging the superficial muscles (like the rectus abdominis, aka the "six-pack" muscles).
  • Creating temporary tension, but without real muscle engagement or strengthening.
  • Possibly restricting your breathing (which is not ideal).

On the other hand, proper core activation, like in exercises such as vacuum holds or Pilates, can strengthen your deep abdominal muscles.

So, if you’re doing it intentionally and correctly, it might help. If you’re just doing it out of habit? Not so much.

2. Can It Improve Posture?

Surprisingly, yes! When you suck in your stomach (without overdoing it), you might find yourself standing taller and aligning your spine better.

But here’s the catch—if you rely on this all the time, you could:

  • Overwork certain muscles (while neglecting deeper stabilizers).
  • Develop tightness and discomfort, especially in the diaphragm and lower back.

Jake actually told me about a client who constantly sucked in his stomach and ended up with chronic back pain. Turns out, he was over-engaging his upper abs while ignoring his lower core, leading to muscle imbalances.

3. Does It Make Your Waist Smaller Over Time?

A lot of people believe that sucking in their stomach will help them get a flatter waist. Unfortunately… that’s a myth.

  • It doesn’t burn fat – Holding in your stomach doesn’t replace actual workouts.
  • It doesn’t reshape your body – Spot-reducing fat isn’t a thing (I wish it were!).

What can help create a slimmer waist?

  • Consistent core training (planks, vacuum exercises, Pilates).
  • A balanced diet to reduce overall body fat.
  • Good posture (which can make you look leaner instantly).

The Right Way to "Engage" Your Core

If you want to activate your abs properly, don’t just suck in—try this instead:

  1. Stand tall with your shoulders relaxed.
  2. Pull your belly button slightly inward (without holding your breath).
  3. Engage your lower abs, like you’re gently bracing for a punch.
  4. Maintain normal breathing while keeping your core slightly activated.

This method is way healthier than constantly sucking in your stomach and actually helps strengthen your abs over time.

The Verdict: Is It Good or Bad?

Sucking in your stomach is fine… in moderation.

Helps with temporary posture correction.
Can give a short-term slimming effect.
If done properly, can engage your core muscles.

But relying on it too much? Not a great idea.

Doesn’t burn fat or shrink your waist.
Can cause muscle imbalances and back pain.
Restricts breathing if done excessively.

So, if you’re just sucking in your stomach to look thinner in pictures—go ahead, we all do it. But if you’re trying to actually strengthen your core, it’s better to focus on proper engagement, good posture, and real workouts.

Honestly, I used to suck in my stomach all the time, thinking it would help. But once I started training my core correctly, I didn’t need to fake it anymore. And trust me—that feels way better.

How much height should a boy have to look attractive?

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Is 172 cm good for a man?

Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years)
14 Years112.0 lb. (50.8 kg)64.5" (163.8 cm)
15 Years123.5 lb. (56.02 kg)67.0" (170.1 cm)
16 Years134.0 lb. (60.78 kg)68.3" (173.4 cm)
17 Years142.0 lb. (64.41 kg)69.0" (175.2 cm)

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

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Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.