Ab Workouts

[soccer022483]

I checked out the articles on WBB and searched this forum, but so far I havn't found enough answers.

I started a new routine last week. I did a lot of studying up on the type/frequency/etc of workouts I should do for each muscle group. I don't think my ab workouts are very good though.

I'm leaning more towards the appearance of my abs. I just want them to look good, not necessarily have olympic strength. There's an article on WBB that talks about having strong abs.

Can you share your ab routines? I'm looking to do about 4 good exercises every workout day (3 days a week). Right now I'm doing hanging side crunches, leg lifts, the ab machine, and 8-min abs at home. Thanks.

[Unholy]

You would not ask us about doing ab's 3 times a week If you did in fact do a search

[soccer022483]

what's wrong with doing abs 3 times a week

[getfit]

soccer how's your diet like?

[soccer022483]

150+ g Protein, about 1800-2400 calories, plenty of water. I don't do the bulk/cut thing (well not yet anyways). Weekends are bad though, I'm trying to fix that.

[getfit]

how are your meals like?

[rk77]

If u just want toned abs and not big bulky strong ones just do sit up and what not without weight. Do that with a solid diet that gets the body fat down low and thats a simple recipe for a nice cut set of abs.

[soccer022483]

how are your meals like?

Mornings: Protein shake (45-50g), bagel or toast

Pre-lunch: some nuts and/or some cheese, water

Lunch: chicken breasts or chicken sandwiches mostly, water

Pre-dinner: milk, this varies a lot

Dinner: varies a lot too. Usually includes a lot of protein and carbs, my mom likes to make pasta a lot

[Unholy]

Wrong, if you want abs you excersize abs like any other body part 1-2 times a week. Will pushups give you a nice chest? no. Diet is key here. If your weekends are horrible than thats your problem. As to workouts for abs. Do weighted ab excersize 1-2 times per a week.

[soccer022483]

getfit, if that's you in the pic, you have nice abs. I would like to look similar to that. More like a boy though of course, lol

[Focused70]

Abs are mainly 80% diet and 20% exercise. (Somewhere around that range.)

I do weighted decline crunches and leg lifts, once a week. You use abs in quite a few movements (e.g., squats and deadlifts). Working abs three times a week is unnecessary, hence why many people on this board advocate doing them once a week or less.

[getfit]

k first you can check out our sticky diet/nutrition forum on "what a bodybuilder eats"

as abs this is what i do

weighted decline crunches
crunches on the ball
reverse crunches
kick ups
cable crunches
i stick to 3 sets 15 reps! twice a week!

[soccer022483]

"abs can be worked every day"
"abs need a day of rest just like other muscle groups"

You hear those 2 a lot. But I think I figured out that abs need rest when you've worked them with weight and low reps. But can do them every day if doing something like 200 crunches at night, etc. agree?

[getfit]

you don't need to work them everyday i would say twice a week is fine or even once a week diet is your key!

[soccer022483]

getfit, that sounds like a nice routine, thanks a lot

[soccer022483]

yeah weekends are killer. That's when my girlfriend wants to eat out a lot.

[getfit]

a cheat day is not bad! try to up your cals,fats,protein a bit and should be fine

[BG5150]

"abs can be worked every day"
"abs need a day of rest just like other muscle groups"

You hear those 2 a lot. But I think I figured out that abs need rest when you've worked them with weight and low reps. But can do them every day if doing something like 200 crunches at night, etc. agree?

Do you think you'd get nice arms by doing 100 db curls w/ 5# each and every day? Then why do people think they will get nice abs if they do 200 crunches a day?

Sure, abs bounce back very quickly, but it doesn't mean they grow any quicker. They are a muscle plain and simple. Train them as such.

[fixationdarknes]

:withstupi Haha, I actually do see some people doing hundreds of curls with a 5-lb. dumbbell thinking it will do them good. So, yes, there are many ignorant people out there today.

[getfit]

we all have to learn from somewhere!