show me your ABS

S

sparrow

Guest
There has been lots of talk about abs in here lately. It got me thinking about it and am curious about something. I know seeing abs has to do with diet. lower the body fat=abs seen. I know abs cannot be worked daily, as they are a muscle like any other and should not be overworked, nor need to be. My question I guess is-within the course of a week if you do a complete body strength training program (but didn't do abs directly) including some core exercises and cardio such as running, swimming or biking and followed a clean diet. Would you be able to see abs doing that? would they show through regardless if you actually worked them directly? how important is it to actually "do abs" in your routine to get a nice tummy, as long as you stayed in a clean diet?
 
Well, here is my $0.02. I believe that following a clean diet and training the whole body consistently at different intensity levels, you will be able to "see" your abs, without directly training them. Of course your diet needs to be really strict. Now this doesn't mean, I don't think you should train your core directly. Personally, I train my core directly once a week. If I'm feeling rambunctious, then twice in a week, but that's not often. Of course what works for me, doesn't mean it will work for the next person. But to "see" your abs, the most important thing, as you mentioned is your diet. It really needs to be dialed in. Of course this is JM
 
my 2 cents would be that everyone's body works differently.. but i agree that a clean diet is very important.. but as far as training them directly i get the best results when i do 100 crunches every night with 50 oblique crunches on each side... but then again as far as training goes people's muscles can act differently.
 
JP lives! Hey dude how are you?! Thanks for your .02. Its what I figured you'd say ;)
 
Jim is right. Not only do you work your abs by direct training, during alot of movements and exercises they are being worked as stabilizers. You wont notice this, because the body is made up of many stabilizers and you dont feel them after a workout. A strong core is very important, its the basis for all movement. Overtraining the core can actually damage or weaken this important area. Its all about that darned body fat!!
 
I was seeing weak ab development and lowered my training to only one isolation session a week and they feel much stronger. With the compound movements I do, I just didn't need them it was to much for my abs. Thats just my body though. I am trying to get my defintion with lower body fat, as they say abs made in the kitchen.
 
I was going to ask a similar question actually...however I am female and was wondering if I would be able to see my abs if I just stuck with my regular cardio everyday, light weight training 3 times a week, and my strict diet? Or is it impossible for woman to see abs without directly working them?
 
I'm female too crave :) and thats pretty much what I do (your routine) also.
 
I agree. Everyone is different, and training abs is not always necessary to have them show nicely. Personally, I do heavy weighted ab exercises and that is how I developed my 6 pack. Before I just had a plain flat stomach with no muscle definition. But that's me. Many compound exercises involve use of the abs and core, which may be adequate for others.

Sarah
 
Ab training is fine and dandy.....but overtraining?.....I think people throw that word around too much. It is more a case of pattern overload. In the military, I remember doing situps EVERY single day. SAID principle = Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand. Take gymnast and circus ole acrobats. These folks are constantly working abdominals....gymnast always doing full pikes....circus guys and gals isometric holds......thank gawd they don't fear the overtraining dogma..... You want abs it is a matter of energy in and energy out.....but to actual see them you will need Consistency/Frequency/ and Variation (mainly in reps/sets). Always show some form of prgression in your workouts. I have trained people for more than just 3x a week with great results.

Goodluck:D
 
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