My abs won't get any rest!

[heavenseventeen]

Apparently the abs are like every other muscle, so should they get worked every other day right?

But that impossible for me because I do Tae bo/ Turbo jam, so every knee raise/kick every workout works the abs.

Is it okay if I continue, or should I try and do the above workouts every other day?

 

[theleip]

In my opinion cardio and strength training should just be two separate activities.
Home videos are fine, but ones that focus just on movement and bouncing around. If there are any resistant bands, dumbbells, anything that really puts a heavy emphasis on resistance (even if it is endurance resistance) it poses two problems. 1-could lead to over training if doing a lifting program and 2- if not doing a lifting program then it isn't enough. This is of course all depending some of your stats and goals, but if it is any significant fat loss needed or any strength or muscle gain its just not the best idea.

If it is all you got then try and use the cardio only videos and rotate them with your strength training.

 

[heavenseventeen]

In my opinion cardio and strength training should just be two separate activities.
Home videos are fine, but ones that focus just on movement and bouncing around. If there are any resistant bands, dumbbells, anything that really puts a heavy emphasis on resistance (even if it is endurance resistance) it poses two problems. 1-could lead to over training if doing a lifting program and 2- if not doing a lifting program then it isn't enough. This is of course all depending some of your stats and goals, but if it is any significant fat loss needed or any strength or muscle gain its just not the best idea.

If it is all you got then try and use the cardio only videos and rotate them with your strength training.

Thanks very much. I didn't realise that working the abs was strength training. I thought that when you use weights you're doing strength training...stupid me. The only problem is every single one of my videos work the abs. Yes three of them allow me to skip that exercise, but the rest don't...I guess in the video when they're working their abs I could just run on the spot...

Any other views on what I could do?

 

[JamesAhrens]

I agree that they should be two separate activities, but it would be simplistic to treat them as a muscle group "like every other".

Yes the tissue is the same and responds to strenght training. But you have to keep an eye on your goal here. To get a six pack, you need to combine it with fat loss and correct nutrition.
The next most useful improvment from your abdominal are is core stability, which will help you deliver more power and speed in your tae bo, or other sporting movements, as well as help prevent injury.

With that in mind ,you can't just do weighted crunches, as transverse abdominals that affect your posture just can't be trained by just stressing the rectus abdominus.
So, depending on your goal, you might want to think of the function of your abs and corset, as well as their strength.

Take a peak at , as well as a few exercises on my blog series

 

[LiveFromNY]

Being that I sprained my stomach, I am very very careful...and suggest that you be, too.

 

[stingo]

Incorporate abs in your weight workout... (I'm going by the program my trainer put together for me...) A stability ball would be very helpful in that situation, because you could do exercises like the chest press and skullcrushers on the ball (rather than lying flat on the bench). Oblique twists, crunches, bridges and hip raises can all be done with the ball too. Also, I think movements like squats, balancing on one leg while doing hammer curls also help. I do this routine M, W, F - and on Wednesdays I take a Pilates class and so far my abs have been ok with that. *knocks wood*