AB training

[Noel Clark]

How do you incorporate abs in your training? I have read so much lately about how some people let the diet do the work for their abs, others train them like any other body part and then those that say "overtrain them"- training them every single day?

What do you do and why?

[TheDeliverator]

We train abs anywhere from 2 to 4 times a week.

We stick to heavy movements; decline or ghr situps with a plate behind our head, heavy sidebends, standing ab pulldowns -that's pretty much what we do.

Reps for the situps are about 8-10, never more than 10.

Reps for sidebends are 5-8, the goal is to end up near bodyweight.

Reps for ab pulldowns are 10-15, it's harder to add weight without just picking yourself up off of the ground.

I think a lot of people train abs the wrong way. I think light, fluff movements you can do for 50 reps are useless. I also think training them everyday is silly, as they are made up of the same kind of muscle every other muscle is made of.

In general, people have weak abs, and I strongly feel it holds their lifts back a lot more than they realize (as well as the inability to correctly use their stomach during a lift).

[smuggie]

I do one ab movement on each lower body day and rotate between trunk flexion, lateral flexion, hip flexion and rotational movements.

On off days I do stabilization/compression work at home.

[Ruthie]

diet and a low amount of work is best for me
one set weighted crunches and 3 sets ten hanging knee raises is all it takes
also a Rolfer I went to told me to do side bends as stretches -no weights for me on that one

[Brandi]

I do an ab class. :lifter: That's actually pretty tough, and scattered with other BW exercises. And I do hanging leg raises a couple times a week.

[MichelleS]

I only did what i was told to which was about every other day or so.

but i know that leg raises and rope crunches is all that i do.

[mackie]

I like to work mine at the end of my leg workout. They seem to get warmed up during the leg WO... and doesn't take much to tweak 'em after that. But my abs are pretty weak right now. :shrug:

[Jeff Rage]

Whether or not you see your abs is defendant upon the amount of bf you have.

How they look once you can see them could depend. Some people never train them. Some train them a little, some train them often. Some use high reps, some use low.

Keep in mind, you may be getting a lot of ab work from the big lifts.

Personally, I don't always train abs. When I do, it's usually a few sets of weighted decline crunches. Often I'll set sets of 5 reps one day, and maybe 10-12 on another. At times, I also add hanging leg raises.

[smuggie]

Whether or not you see your abs is defendant upon the amount of bf you have.
Does this mean your abs might need a lawyer?

[Ali]

Ab training? :unsure:

[straitshooter]

For me, the only time I get lean enough to see them is super close to my show...otherwise, it's abs covered by a layer of fat! Diet is what does it for me.

Now, I will do some ab work occasionally during the week...nothing weighted, just crunches, reverse leg lifts, that sort of thing.

[Ali]

Oh, I should probably put in that I do some ab training. Not much at the moment...I usually throw in some weighted crunches...on the ball is my favorite.

I've also done leg lifts, knee-ups, reverse crunches, decline leg lifts, wood chops, cable crunches....I think that's about it. No more than 3 times a week.

[mackie]

Does this mean your abs might need a lawyer?:lol:

[jlb001]

When I do abs...its usually after my cardio when I am stretching. I do basic stuff on the floor and non weighted.

I do need to start adding them back in because I want the sides ones to pop more this year.

[Robben]

When I do abs...its usually after my cardio when I am stretching. I do basic stuff on the floor and non weighted.

I do need to start adding them back in because I want the sides ones to pop more this year.

Me too. I've got a lot of work to do on my abs... I'm tryin' to get that hardcore split down the center of my abs to come in...

[straitshooter]

When I do abs...its usually after my cardio when I am stretching. I do basic stuff on the floor and non weighted.

I do need to start adding them back in because I want the sides ones to pop more this year.
i already posted but didn't say any specifics, but this is EXACTLY what i do. I throw them in basically when I remember to do them....no real rhyme or reason, but basic stuff on floor and non-weighted.

[ritzgal]

In general, people have weak abs, and I strongly feel it holds their lifts back a lot more than they realize (as well as the inability to correctly use their stomach during a lift).

I think this would be a HUGE reason to train abs. More for the functionality of it...

[TheDeliverator]

I think this would be a HUGE reason to train abs. More for the functionality of it...

I would agree.

I strongly believe a lot of the lifters who are struggling with either increasing weight or dialing in form on things like overhead work, squatting, pulling and other movements would be surprised at how much real ab work helps.

I don't know why people approach ab training in a completely different way then the way they train every other muscle, but it shows.

[Jared]

I don't know why people approach ab training in a completely different way then the way they train every other muscle, but it shows.

BECAUSE U NEED HI REPS 4 CUTZ!1!! LOOK AT ALL MY CLIENTZ THAT HAVE 6PAC ABZ!1!!11! IF U CANT STAND DA HEAT STAY OUT OF MY LIVING ROOM!1!!

[TheDeliverator]

BECAUSE U NEED HI REPS 4 CUTZ!1!! LOOK AT ALL MY CLIENTZ THAT HAVE 6PAC ABZ!1!!11! IF U CANT STAND DA HEAT STAY OUT OF MY LIVING ROOM!1!!

YOU WATHC YUOR MOUTH I WILL THROE EVEYRTING AT YOU LIKE MAI KITCHENN SINK!

BRO.

[Jared]

YOU WATHC YUOR MOUTH I WILL THROE EVEYRTING AT YOU LIKE MAI KITCHENN SINK!

BRO.

MAH CERTIFIKATIONS & DEGREES WILL SHOW U WHOSE RIGHT BRO.

[TheDeliverator]

MAH CERTIFIKATIONS & DEGREES WILL SHOW U WHOSE RIGHT BRO.

HHHUUURRR GRRRRRRR STAMPA STAMPA

[smuggie]

:lol3:

[Ali]

You guys are :sad:

[Neely]

:funny: :funny:

[Jared]

HHHUUURRR GRRRRRRR STAMPA STAMPA

DONT GET UPSET MAYBE I CAN SHOW U SOME TIPS FOR UR NEXT SHOULDER WORKOUT.