Doing Abs to much or not enough...

[BeeStung]

So of course everyone wants abs and of course everyone knows that abs are made in the kitchen and not the gym. i never really focused on doing abs a lone but im starting a cycle and i want to make sure i get the most out of it. my workout week is as followed:

monday: chest with light back
tuesday: biceps with DL
wednesday: triceps with legs
thursday: back with light chest
friday: off or if i go its shoulders and light biceps
saturday: DL and bench
sunday: heavy legs with light triceps

ive been doing this routine for some time now and i love it. its working great for me also. i do about 10-12 minutes of cardio as a warm up in the beginning of the workout but last week i replaced those 10-15 minutes with some ab work.

comments and advice on this?

[73rr]

I think everyone has there own workout beliefs when it comes to abs. I personally say train them like every other muscle. Witch is ones a week. Hit them hard and make them hurt! After that diet Witch u already no

[Bio-Active]

I have abs year round and never work them at all. I wouldn't unless I was preparing for a show

[Mp859]

Abs are a muscle just like all the others. You have to hit though to make them grow. Some people naturally have lower body fat or more visible abs then others. Regardless, hit them.

[73rr]

I have abs year round and never work them at all. I wouldn't unless I was preparing for a show

Future goals in life!^^^^

[Bio-Active]

Abs are a muscle just like all the others. You have to hit though to make them grow. Some people naturally have lower body fat or more visible abs then others. Regardless, hit them.

that's were the kitchen comes in and yes some peoples abs are just naturally bigger without working them. I certainly do not need my abs to grow. Staying lean keeps them visible

[novastepp]

So of course everyone wants abs and of course everyone knows that abs are made in the kitchen and not the gym. i never really focused on doing abs a lone but im starting a cycle and i want to make sure i get the most out of it. my workout week is as followed: monday: chest with light back tuesday: biceps with DL wednesday: triceps with legs thursday: back with light chest friday: off or if i go its shoulders and light biceps saturday: DL and bench sunday: heavy legs with light triceps ive been doing this routine for some time now and i love it. its working great for me also. i do about 10-12 minutes of cardio as a warm up in the beginning of the workout but last week i replaced those 10-15 minutes with some ab work. comments and advice on this?

I would focus on specific exercises that are traditionally known as core exercises. You don't want to make your waist bigger. I don't do them on leg or back day because of the bracing need from the abs.

[almostgone]

So of course everyone wants abs and of course everyone knows that abs are made in the kitchen and not the gym. i never really focused on doing abs a lone but im starting a cycle and i want to make sure i get the most out of it. my workout week is as followed:

monday: chest with light back
tuesday: biceps with DL
wednesday: triceps with legs
thursday: back with light chest
friday: off or if i go its shoulders and light biceps
saturday: DL and bench
sunday: heavy legs with light triceps

ive been doing this routine for some time now and i love it. its working great for me also. i do about 10-12 minutes of cardio as a warm up in the beginning of the workout but last week i replaced those 10-15 minutes with some ab work.

comments and advice on this?

A friend of mine suggested working abs before lifts that require a decent amount of lower back muscle. The ab work stretches and loosens up the lower back, so I generally knock off some crunches (nothing crazy, maybe a couple sets of 100 or so) at the beginning of back sessions and leg sessions. It has worked really well for me.

[novastepp]

A friend of mine suggested working abs before lifts that require a decent amount of lower back muscle. The ab work stretches and loosens up the lower back, so I generally knock off some crunches (nothing crazy, maybe a couple sets of 100 or so) at the beginning of back sessions and leg sessions. It has worked really well for me.

Haha, AG, that is exactly the opposite of what I do! I usually stretch my back and do plenty of warm ups, but I don't do specific an exercises.

One of the greatest things about the people who give great advice on this forum, is the fact that they help people understand that one of the most valuable pieces of information to learn is: do what works for you!

[GirlyGymRat]

I have abs year round and never work them at all. I wouldn't unless I was preparing for a show

That's bc you eat lean!

[Bio-Active]

That's bc you eat lean!

lol you think?

[Ronnie Rowland]

I have abs year round because my diet is good. If I train my abs directly with weight they can easily overpower my chest. Crunches, reverse crunches and/or hanging leg raises are really all that you need. You can throw in some some planks for the obliques if desired. I'd train them once a week, but if they are lacking in mass training them twice a week.

[Bio-Active]

Right and if your lifting correctly and bracing your abs they get work with every lift you do

[Ronnie Rowland]

Right and if your lifting correctly and bracing your abs they get work with every lift you do

Exactly!

[GirlyGymRat]

Right and if your lifting correctly and bracing your abs they get work with every lift you do

My abs get a workout whenever I squat. And the Roman chair for back.

I do a 100 crunches on ball as a warm up and as a stretch since extended backwards as much as forward. I really like planks as well but I am not as lean as you!!!

[Bio-Active]

My abs get a workout whenever I squat. And the Roman chair for back. I do a 100 crunches on ball as a warm up and as a stretch since extended backwards as much as forward. I really like planks as well but I am not as lean as you!!!

those crunches on the ball work great and require very little movement if you lay all the way back on the ball you really only need to contract an inch or 2 to fire those abs correctly

[Ronnie Rowland]

The Swissball allows you to work the abs with high reps and low resistance. Lying properly on a BOSUball is also good for working the abs, but the extra resistance can thicken them too much in some cases.

[tice1212]

This is a good question. When I did my first show I got my bf% down to 6-5% clipped. My top 4 were popping and my bottom two didn't show up. Is that because of underdeveloped lower abs?

[TheTaxMan]

My abs are huge they stick out further than my chest
I never train abs, (havent done a single sit up for 12 years) i think the chest should be thicker than the stomach so i leave them, its a shame im too high bodyfat to see them for what they are but when i feel around they are huge.
The top 4 are far bigger than the bottom 4, i have an 8 pack but the top half is much thicker, maybe i need to train the bottom 4 better

I think if u feel around and theres nothing there then train them hard just like any other muscle but remember to give them rest and not to over train

[Bio-Active]

My abs are huge they stick out further than my chest I never train abs, (havent done a single sit up for 12 years) i think the chest should be thicker than the stomach so i leave them, its a shame im too high bodyfat to see them for what they are but when i feel around they are huge. The top 4 are far bigger than the bottom 4, i have an 8 pack but the top half is much thicker, maybe i need to train the bottom 4 better I think if u feel around and theres nothing there then train them hard just like any other muscle but remember to give them rest and not to over train

you will get there brother just keep the food clean

[Mp859]

This is a good question. When I did my first show I got my bf% down to 6-5% clipped. My top 4 were popping and my bottom two didn't show up. Is that because of underdeveloped lower abs?

did you do any hanging leg raises? That is the only thing that helped make my lower abs pop.

[tice1212]

did you do any hanging leg raises? That is the only thing that helped make my lower abs pop.

Honestly no I was in the team of (abs are made in the kitchen and my training should be sufficient enough to build abs) but I was wrong lol... The off season I have been doing weighted abs thing I have to build them up but I haven't touch any hanging leg raises. I'll have to do them to get these things to pop. Thanks for the help bro

[Mp859]

Honestly no I was in the team of (abs are made in the kitchen and my training should be sufficient enough to build abs) but I was wrong lol... The off season I have been doing weighted abs thing I have to build them up but I haven't touch any hanging leg raises. I'll have to do them to get these things to pop. Thanks for the help bro

there is also an old ass nautilus crunch machine that works amazing for lower abs as well. I've only seen one around lately though. Just do hanging leg raise with legs straight out to failure, then continue with knees bent. Works wonders.

[gearbox]

It matters what you are trying to accomplish.
More visibility
Bigger abs
Stronger abs for certain movements (gymnastics)

This changes what you would do. I know many who have visible abs but they are not strong. They can't even do an L sit hold for 10 seconds.

Visibility would be diet...

Bigger would be weighted abs imo.

I do abs once a week for the strength aspect of it. I can and do many gymnastic movements that require a great deal up abdominal strength. Working towards more but the strength is not there yet

[Bio-Active]

Planks are great for abs as well

[noon]

lol you think?

I just ate a burger a cheese stick and a fist full of marshmallows . And my stomach is still flat and I can achieve abs with a little work in the gym