YAWT: Abs

[Jgtdragon]

I been doing lots of cardio and working out my abs. I been doing it everyday. Should I let it rest or should I continue to do it daily?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Jgtdragon
I been doing lots of cardio and working out my abs. I been doing it everyday. Should I let it rest or should I continue to do it daily?

Work them the same as any other muscle group, which means less frequently than every day. I only work mine directly once per week.

Ideally you should do exercises that allow you to easily add resistance, like weighted crunches or cable cruches.

Also keep in mind that having visible abs is 90% diet.

 

[bobsmith1492]

You can do abs every day since they're a tile muscle, so I've heard.

 

[Sentinel]

you can do then 2 or 3 times a week and get great results. just work them hard.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
You can do abs every day since they're a tile muscle, so I've heard.

Wrong. They are still a muscle like any other. There is no reason to work them that often.

 

[JustWhitman]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
You can do abs every day since they're a tile muscle, so I've heard.

Over-training is a common mistake.

Hit 'em hard once or twice a week and they'll be good. Quite a few exercises use them as secondary muscles/stabilizers. Like someone else mentioned though, visible abs come from a clean diet and/or lots of cardio.

 

[NGC_604]

..

 

[Jgtdragon]

I guess 8 mins abs everyday should be ok.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Jgtdragon
I guess 8 mins abs everyday should be ok.

No. Work them out the same as you would any other muscle. I would suggest you go on a rotation of muscle groups throughout your week.

Also you need to swim and run. They work out lower abs a lot. In addition to that they work out your Obliques (Muscles on your sides) (You should still do dedicated Oblique exercises with your ab workout though).

Finally, eat right. You can work out all you want, but if you have fat covering your muscles it isn't going to do anything.

-Kevin

 

[xtknight]

When you say do cardio to improve abs, does a rather high-intensity stationary bike workout count? Or, must you run (upright)?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Jgtdragon
I guess 8 mins abs everyday should be ok.

You would be better off training abs once or twice per week, and hitting them hard with something that allows you to easily add resistance, such as cable or weighted crunches.

 

[darkxshade]

Abs are made in the kitchen

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: xtknight
When you say do cardio to improve abs, does a rather high-intensity stationary bike workout count? Or, must you run (upright)?

Well you generally want to reach an aerobic state so you are at your target heart rate. Cycling while you will still work obliques to a certain extent and you will still eventually reach aerobic workout, doesn't put the same kind of stress on abs that running will do.

If you want even better results, swimming is absolutely incredible for your abs/obliques (Basically all muscles)

-Kevin

 

[xtknight]

Awesome... treadmill it is, then. ; )

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: xtknight
Awesome... treadmill it is, then. ; )

Treadmill is very good, but if you have the option definitely take running outdoors. You will be more motivated since the scenery changes. Not only that you the ground isn't moving you are.

Cross country tracks would be best because your Quads and Hamstrings will get a better work out (Not running on flat ground) as well as your twitch muscle fibers (because you aren't running on level ground).

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: xtknight
Awesome... treadmill it is, then. ; )

Treadmill is very good, but if you have the option definitely take running outdoors. You will be more motivated since the scenery changes. Not only that you the ground isn't moving you are.

Cross country tracks would be best because your Quads and Hamstrings will get a better work out (Not running on flat ground) as well as your twitch muscle fibers (because you aren't running on level ground).

Just to clarify, you will not be building any leg muscle by doing long distance running.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: xtknight
Awesome... treadmill it is, then. ; )

Treadmill is very good, but if you have the option definitely take running outdoors. You will be more motivated since the scenery changes. Not only that you the ground isn't moving you are.

Cross country tracks would be best because your Quads and Hamstrings will get a better work out (Not running on flat ground) as well as your twitch muscle fibers (because you aren't running on level ground).

Just to clarify, you will not be building any leg muscle by doing long distance running.

Yea I didn't word that right. By Cross Country, I mean not on a rubberized track or anything. I mean like a trail through the woods designated for running or something (With roots and hills and stuff). So really I mean trail running will be your best bet

Also, you generally want to run at a steady pace for about 30 mins to reach aerobic.

-Kevin

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Do like 30 minutes, 1 minute sprint-pace, 2 minutes slower pace. Pack the hardest effort into the first half of your run.

 

[Jgtdragon]

I live near my high school football/track stadium. I guess I will run up and down the stairs instead of the track. I been doing 8 mins abs for a week, I do see results in short period time.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Jgtdragon
I live near my high school football/track stadium. I guess I will run up and down the stairs instead of the track. I been doing 8 mins abs for a week, I do see results in short period time.

Only do the 8 min abs like once every 4 days. Otherwise you are breaking your muscles down and then working them out again without giving them a chance to repair themselves.

I don't know how you are built, but if you are already skinny with little muscle then drink milk with Whey Protein in the morning, after the workout, and in the evening to build the muscles.

If you are already fairly strong with good muscle mass and have too much fat, then do what was suggested earlier but leave off the whey protein and regulate your diet a little more.

-Kevin

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: Jgtdragon
I been doing lots of cardio and working out my abs. I been doing it everyday. Should I let it rest or should I continue to do it daily?

Work them the same as any other muscle group, which means less frequently than every day. I only work mine directly once per week.

Ideally you should do exercises that allow you to easily add resistance, like weighted crunches or cable cruches.

Also keep in mind that having visible abs is 90% diet.

I think I'm going to start doing that just to see if there's any difference...my ab workouts have consisted of squats and deadlifts.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
You can do abs every day since they're a tile muscle, so I've heard.

Wrong. They are still a muscle like any other. There is no reason to work them that often.

I didn't mean EVERY day, I mean every day you work out (3-4/week or so). Sorry.

Oh, and try the decline bench with ankle grips - you can do a great workout on it using a medicine ball. Toss it to a friend on the upstroke and catch it on the way down. Then do it side-to-side to mix things up and add to the side ab strength.