Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure

Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 08:03:30 AM

Title: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 08:03:30 AM
I've been doing abs for about 2 months now. I do about a 30-35 minute work out and hit them pretty hard. The first time I did them i was sore for 2 weeks so didn't do them a second time till two weeks later. Then I started to be able to do them every week. Now I only get sore for about 4-5 days. Should I do abs every 5 days now or is once a week sufficient for abs provided i am hitting them hard enough to get sore for multiple days. My assumption was always 90% of abs was losing the fat.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: jaejonna on April 30, 2009, 08:04:49 AM
Train them once a week, maybe twice.....Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Eyeball Chambers on April 30, 2009, 08:05:06 AM
I never really believed in ab work, but I've been doing them and the "Stomach Vacuum" and my stomach/abs are looking much better.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Palpatine Q on April 30, 2009, 08:08:51 AM
Train them once a week, maybe twice.....Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym

X2   they are a muscle like any other, no need to go insane on the ab work
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 08:10:35 AM
Train them once a week, maybe twice.....Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym

That was always my thought. My plan was to make sure i hit them atleast once a week and if they weren't sore and i had time try for a second session a week. BUt since i've never had great abs i figured i'd ask the experts here on getbig  ;D
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: DK II on April 30, 2009, 08:14:35 AM
Ab-work is pretty useless, but you should get some nice core exercises 2 times a week. This will not only help your abs but also improve your squat, deadlifts and some other exercises.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: JasonH on April 30, 2009, 08:14:47 AM
I never really trained them until up to about six months ago when I decided that if I was ever going to compete one day I would have to make a start.

I now train them twice a week - upper abs for 3 sets of 15 and lower abs for the same. Seen some decent improvements in that time - diet will do the rest.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: The Apprentice on April 30, 2009, 08:16:18 AM
about once a week
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: The Wizard of Truth on April 30, 2009, 08:16:41 AM
I never do them,when I lose bodyfat they pop out
I used do a lot of ab work for boxing in my teens so that may contribute
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Method101 on April 30, 2009, 08:20:31 AM
....|||||||||||
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
||||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I|||||/
....||I||||/
....||I|||/
....||I||/
....||I|/
....||I/
....|/

Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Sherief Shalaby on April 30, 2009, 08:20:42 AM
I've been doing abs for about 2 months now. I do about a 30-35 minute work out and hit them pretty hard. The first time I did them i was sore for 2 weeks so didn't do them a second time till two weeks later. Then I started to be able to do them every week. Now I only get sore for about 4-5 days. Should I do abs every 5 days now or is once a week sufficient for abs provided i am hitting them hard enough to get sore for multiple days. My assumption was always 90% of abs was losing the fat.

i believe you over train them like this!!.. it's not normal to be sore for 5 days!!.. train them twice a week,.. just 2-3 exercises, 3 sets each.. no need to count the reps, just reach the point of failure..
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: DK II on April 30, 2009, 08:22:12 AM
....|||||||||||
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
.....|---|
||||||||||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||||||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I||||||
....||I|||||/
....||I||||/
....||I|||/
....||I||/
....||I|/
....||I/
....|/



Internet tough guy.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: kyomu on April 30, 2009, 08:24:40 AM
Since i have my abs quite flat geneticaly, i do abs everyday with weights and now I have thick abs.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: dave19 on April 30, 2009, 08:33:58 AM
like once a year probably
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 08:35:50 AM
i believe you over train them like this!!.. it's not normal to be sore for 5 days!!.. train them twice a week,.. just 2-3 exercises, 3 sets each.. no need to count the reps, just reach the point of failure..

Here's what i did yesterday, the first two are standard i mix up the middle 2:

5 sets to failure on the decline machine
3-4 sets where i lie on a bench and my brother pushes my legs down and I raise them back up
2-3 sets hanging leg raises - failure
2-3 sets ab wheel - close to or failure
3 sets twisty oblique machine - close to failure

It gets me good and sore.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Sherief Shalaby on April 30, 2009, 08:40:36 AM
Here's what i did yesterday, the first two are standard i mix up the middle 2:

5 sets to failure on the decline machine
3-4 sets where i lie on a bench and my brother pushes my legs down and I raise them back up
2-3 sets hanging leg raises - failure
2-3 sets ab wheel - close to or failure
3 sets twisty oblique machine - close to failure

It gets me good and sore.

believe me this is overtraining!!.. to sore more than 2 days is not normal.. this may harm your muscles and wont make them respond better or faster.. 
also you may have strong abs but you need to lose some fats or to get rid of some extra water under your skin.. so training is not everything..
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 08:45:14 AM
believe me this is overtraining!!.. to sore more than 2 days is not normal.. this may harm your muscles and wont make them respond better or faster.. 
also you may have strong abs but you need to lose some fats or to get rid of some extra water under your skin.. so training is not everything..


Yeah i have plenty of fat to lose  ;D I think after a couple more weeks i won't be sore for more than a couple days, i think my body is still getting used to actually working out abs. When i started my abs would be sore for 2 days just from doing chins where i had to hold my legs up a little because the bar was too low  ;)
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: dave19 on April 30, 2009, 08:46:36 AM
believe me this is overtraining!!.. to sore more than 2 days is not normal.. this may harm your muscles and wont make them respond better or faster.. 
also you may have strong abs but you need to lose some fats or to get rid of some extra water under your skin.. so training is not everything..


you are correct .. good abs are mostly a question of bodyfat. and u certainly don't need to do a whole lot of crunches to have great abs , thats for sure.

hell i never workout abs directly and yet I have wonderful abs.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Sherief Shalaby on April 30, 2009, 08:59:27 AM
you are correct .. good abs are mostly a question of bodyfat. and u certainly don't need to do a whole lot of crunches to have great abs , thats for sure.

hell i never workout abs directly and yet I have wonderful abs.

Exactly and this is what any skinny child has a well seen defined abs because of his low body fats.. his abs muscles may be weak but they look great!!..
we all have abs and our abs muscles are used frequently during our everyday’s normal activities so to some extent they are trained all the time!!.. just lose the fats that cover them and you will see them.. of course training makes them thicker and stronger but this comes as number 2 after the diet!!..
I read before than rich. Gaspari never train his abs till he turned pro.!!..
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: tbombz on April 30, 2009, 09:16:00 AM
ab training helps to see your abs faster. it thickens the abs, so they will pop out and show with more fat than they would otherwise. and it also burns the fat on top of the abs. 
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Method101 on April 30, 2009, 09:19:47 AM
i train abs 2x a week fyi
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 09:20:27 AM
ab training helps to see your abs faster. it thickens the abs, so they will pop out and show with more fat than they would otherwise. and it also burns the fat on top of the abs. 

Suggested amount and intensity?
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Top Dog on April 30, 2009, 09:22:39 AM
It's all diet. Ever see the show Survivor? They all have unbelievable abs by the end of the show and it aint from situps.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: tbombz on April 30, 2009, 09:31:31 AM
Suggested amount and intensity?
i dont know...try one upper ab and one lower ab movement.

like machine crunches=



and cable crunches=




you could do something like 4 sets each. asnd do them every other day.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Butterbean on April 30, 2009, 09:34:09 AM
rarely
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: jpm101 on April 30, 2009, 09:35:19 AM
The Abs are a short range, very powerful, muscle group. And should be trained like any other muscle group. 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps should do it. Even 3 to 5 reps for some strongmen training.  And 2 to 3 times a week. Anything else is just more wasted gym time. Add weight to most any ab exercise and you will soon seen those deep lumps of muscle appearing.

My view only, but the best investment for ab training is an Ab wheel.  At around $4.95 at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. A great bang for your buck. Hit's the lower ab wall, at well as the upper, strongly.  Or try doing a regular situp (feet strapped down and knees bent) holding a BB over head.  Probaly want to raise to a top crunch position, but a great ab exercise never the less. On most any ab exercise find a way to add weight to the movement. good Luck.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Cleanest Natural on April 30, 2009, 09:38:32 AM
3 times a week

hanging leg raises I found to be the best exercise

Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Boost on April 30, 2009, 09:39:35 AM
About once every two years
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: #1 Klaus fan on April 30, 2009, 09:42:02 AM
believe me this is overtraining!!.. to sore more than 2 days is not normal.. this may harm your muscles and wont make them respond better or faster.. 
also you may have strong abs but you need to lose some fats or to get rid of some extra water under your skin.. so training is not everything..


Hey, that is stupid thing to say cause you just don't know if he is overtraining or not. And besides, if overtraining isn't a possibility you aren't training hard enough.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Mars on April 30, 2009, 10:02:12 AM
way too less, when you cant see your abbs anymore its kinda hard to keep the motivation to train them.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: spinnis on April 30, 2009, 10:02:45 AM
never.

Im thinking of starting, trying to focus on "lower abs"
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Method101 on April 30, 2009, 10:05:54 AM
i have abs genetic shape similar to arnold... 4 pack..

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/510014387_0419dc2c26.jpg)
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: spinnis on April 30, 2009, 10:08:35 AM
(http://i43.tinypic.com/207w7lz.jpg)




hehehehehehe
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Epic_Monster on April 30, 2009, 10:09:31 AM
3x a week. Not so much for building more for good core strength.

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/jel2w/mephone.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/jel2w/2008-05-22-64920.jpg)
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: tbombz on April 30, 2009, 10:13:08 AM
"core strength" oh brother  ::)

i bet you make great use of the gigantic "exercise balls" too, dont ya  :P
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Epic_Monster on April 30, 2009, 10:19:19 AM
"core strength" oh brother  ::)

i bet you make great use of the gigantic "exercise balls" too, dont ya  :P

No, Bosu w/ some weight and a few other "basic" exercises. I don't workout on physio balls. I don't do squats on physio balls. You may be suprised how weak your abs are if you were to try a few exercises
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Awesomo on April 30, 2009, 10:25:32 AM
My view only, but the best investment for ab training is an Ab wheel.  At around $4.95 at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. A great bang for your buck. Hit's the lower ab wall, at well as the upper, strongly.

Could not agree more. I really feel it when I do the ab wheel. My brother makes fun of me but i love it. But since he has a 6 pack and I don't it is hard to say shit back. I just tell him it is because he is thinner than me, but he won't be for long  :D
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Method101 on April 30, 2009, 10:32:29 AM
if you hold a plate overhead while you do crunches it makes it alot harder.
I do a superset of:
4x20 crunches with a plate overhead.
4x30 Leg raises.

Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Sherief Shalaby on April 30, 2009, 10:36:10 AM
Hey, that is stupid thing to say cause you just don't know if he is overtraining or not. And besides, if overtraining isn't a possibility you aren't training hard enough.

yes idiot i dont train enough but i have abs you cant achieve even in your dreams  :-X
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Cleanest Natural on April 30, 2009, 10:36:15 AM
if you hold a plate overhead while you do crunches it makes it alot harder.
I do a superset of:
4x20 crunches with a plate overhead.
4x30 Leg raises.


and 65x8 dumbell curls  :D
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Epic_Monster on April 30, 2009, 12:33:42 PM
and 65x8 dumbell curls  :D

 :o
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: johnnynoname on April 30, 2009, 12:42:24 PM
twice a day but only because i'm obsessive compulsive about it ..and plus it really doesn't take that long
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Epic_Monster on April 30, 2009, 12:48:21 PM
twice a day but only because i'm obsessive compulsive about it ..and plus it really doesn't take that long

Why twice a day? Do you use resistance or just various types of crunches?
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: johnnynoname on April 30, 2009, 12:49:38 PM
Why twice a day? Do you use resistance or just various types of crunches?

various type of crunches in a quick circuit
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Epic_Monster on April 30, 2009, 12:52:00 PM
various type of crunches in a quick circuit

cool.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Croatch on April 30, 2009, 12:57:55 PM
Pointless.
Diet, then cardio.
The end.

My favorite is seeing guys do abs, with 20% bf, then wonder why their abs aren't showing. ;)

Doing abs is good to bring them out a bit, when you're lean.  If you're not lean, again, pointless.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: johnnynoname on April 30, 2009, 01:03:05 PM


Doing abs is good to bring them out a bit, when you're lean.  If you're not lean, again, pointless.


btw, that reminds me of a tip for lean guys to FURTHER bring out there abs

for lean guys, using a sauna belt will help bring out your abs EVEN MORE. 
wear one when you sleep and take it off when you wake up
or
if you do the morning cardio thing, wear it at bedtime and wear it all away till after your morning cardio session

the results are pretty remarkable and i'm VERY skeptical about "gimmicks"
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Go 4 It on April 30, 2009, 01:05:21 PM
Pointless.
Diet, then cardio.
The end.

My favorite is seeing guys do abs, with 20% bf, then wonder why their abs aren't showing. ;)

Doing abs is good to bring them out a bit, when you're lean.  If you're not lean, again, pointless.

x2!!
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Cleanest Natural on April 30, 2009, 01:13:13 PM
i have abs genetic shape similar to arnold... 4 pack..

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/510014387_0419dc2c26.jpg)
:D :D :D

epic associating yourself w arnold

turd

post your own pic
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Stormspirit on April 30, 2009, 01:19:54 PM
i dont know...try one upper ab and one lower ab movement.
and cable crunches=




you could do something like 4 sets each. asnd do them every other day.
cable crunches are my favorite, i get the best feel.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Matt C on April 30, 2009, 01:25:41 PM
I only do them a few weeks before every contest although for the Olympia I like to start them a little earlier.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: ASJChaotic on April 30, 2009, 01:27:13 PM
NEVER
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: XFACTOR on April 30, 2009, 03:49:59 PM
Not enough!  Getting there though.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Ursus on April 30, 2009, 03:51:50 PM
the abs showing is diet.

i triane dthen for a few weeks recently and found my overhead pressing and DL got easier.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: XFACTOR on April 30, 2009, 03:54:16 PM
the abs showing is diet.

i triane dthen for a few weeks recently and found my overhead pressing and DL got easier.

Interesting.  Never thought of that.
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Ursus on April 30, 2009, 04:38:46 PM
it works mate. OHP felt very secure.

all i done was 5x5 abs with a lightish weight. then a few sets of 10
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: camelisator on April 30, 2009, 05:08:12 PM
2 times a month  8)
Title: Re: How often do you do abs?
Post by: Method101 on May 03, 2009, 05:42:11 AM
2 times a month  8)
you look like youv had gyno surgery  :-X