Ab Workout Comments

[Yahtzee]

I've been working out my upper body, arms, and legs, but I've never really gotten into an ab routine because I hate doing sit ups. This is not working well because I now have this skinny mid section and big chest. I've been doing crunches with 15-20 rep sets with a 15 pound weight behind my head. This hurts like crazy when I'm doing it, but never really causes soreness. Is this a good way to bulk or not?


Also...I've been alternating between these workouts. Which one is better... or should I keep doing both?

15 diamond push ups
15 regular
15 wide set

5 sets of that ^

chest press: I'm not sure how much weight is actually on it, but I do 3 sets of 10 with about as much weight as I can do, and then do another 2 sets with a lighter weights, and then go back and do heavy ones until I can't do anymore.

 

[wacky906]

I've been doing crunches with 15-20 rep sets with a 15 pound weight behind my head. This hurts like crazy when I'm doing it, but never really causes soreness. Is this a good way to bulk or not?

Mm.. why is the 15 pound weight behind your head? It should be on your chest. What do you mean by it hurts, where? Also how many sets are you doing?

Also...I've been alternating between these workouts. Which one is better... or should I keep doing both?

15 diamond push ups
15 regular
15 wide set

chest press: I'm not sure how much weight is actually on it, but I do 3 sets of 10 with about as much weight as I can do, and then do another 2 sets with a lighter weights, and then go back and do heavy ones until I can't do anymore.

You're doing too much for the chest press. Use the flat bench press, incline and decline bench presses. You should also warm up instead of doing the lighter sets and then go onto your main sets, then stop. For variation just switch between barbell and dumbell.

You can just keep alternating between the two workouts.

 

[theleip]

Yeah I don't really know what you are doing, but none of it sounds good. You need to re-work your workout plan. Read the stickies at the top of this forum section.

 

[Yahtzee]

why is the 15 pound weight behind your head?

That would give more resistence wouldn't it? I'm doing 3 sets with 30 second breaks in between...and then taking a few minute break...and then doing 2 or three more sets.

You're doing too much for the chest press. Use the flat bench press, incline and decline bench presses.

What do you mean by that? I have a weight machine and it only has a chest press. Should I change my routine?

 

[theleip]

If you want to add weight to your abs work you don't put it behind you head. That fact that you are doing this leads me to believe that you have a lot to learn about form and routines. So really you should do alot of reading first before you hurt yourself. And yes you need a new routine.

 

[wacky906]

That would give more resistence wouldn't it? I'm doing 3 sets with 30 second breaks in between...and then taking a few minute break...and then doing 2 or three more sets.



What do you mean by that? I have a weight machine and it only has a chest press. Should I change my routine?

No, the weight should be on your chest, if you want anything behind your head while doing sit-ups it should be your hands and only your hands. Also you shouldn't be doing 5-6 sets of 30 reps for abs, remember, abs are like any other muscle and there is no need to overtrain them. Also if you're not already, do some oblique exercises and lower abdominal exercises; crunches are mainly for the upper abs, for a full, nice abdominal section add in those two types of exercises.

You should, if possible, join a gym to get access to a flat, incline, and decline bench so you can do your chest exercises there (bench press, incline and decline bench presses), also consider the chest fly. This helps you train different sections of the chest, not just the pectoralis major (which your chest press concentrates on).

You should change your routine to incorporate a few of these exercises in instead of just doing the chest press and sit-ups.

Also I don't encourage the use of weight machines in general unless you're learning the forms and techniques, but if that's the only thing you have access to...

Good luck