Arnold's workout says to do abs everyday, should I do it?

Quint436 · 06-14-2009, 08:15 PM

Reps for yah

dkemano42 · 06-14-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint436

Reps for yah

Yah....work them from different angles and with different exercises.

DK

luv2pump · 06-14-2009, 08:23 PM

If he says to, do it. I am on the same program.

TheStreetKing · 06-14-2009, 09:00 PM

Your abs are a muscle and need rest. So Training them everyday is a bad idea. Would you train Biceps or Chest everyday?

theshoupguy · 06-14-2009, 09:04 PM

Go for it. While you're at it, don't forget that Ronnie also used 160s to start out his decline db presses. You wouldn't want your massive Arnold abs to dwarf less-than-Ronnie pecs, would you?

kasparaitis · 06-14-2009, 09:52 PM

I don't mean this in a bad way, but you have to remember that he was on steroids, as are about all other professional bodybuilders, so a lot of there training advice is erroneous because the recovery periods are completely different for those who are on steroids and those who aren't.

JOSEF RAKICH · 06-14-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStreetKing

Your abs are a muscle and need rest. So Training them everyday is a bad idea. Would you train Biceps or Chest everyday?

This.

Arnold diddnt exctally have the best abs anyway. Just saying, not hating on Arnold or anything lol.

-Lucifer · 06-14-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint436

Reps for yah

Try it for a month and see where it takes you. Some people need more ab work than others.

I have a buddy who's into Martial Arts and works his abs 6 days a week. He has great abs.

luv2pump · 06-14-2009, 11:28 PM

I believe it!^^^^

I alternate between reverse and regular crunches, per the program. So, it is not quite the same part every day. And it's working. 'Nuff said.

SmoothyKing · 06-14-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStreetKing

Your abs are a muscle and need rest. So Training them everyday is a bad idea. Would you train Biceps or Chest everyday?

this^^

i used to be a follower of the arnold gospel until i saw him, on camera in the documentary pumping iron, say he gives a lot of bull**** advice to people to set them back so he could stay on top

luv2pump · 06-14-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmoothyKing

this^^

i used to be a follower of the arnold gospel until i saw him, on camera in the documentary pumping iron, say he gives a lot of bull**** advice to people to set them back so he could stay on top

It's in the latest version of his book, released long after he was done competing.

To the OP- whatever you decide, if you are going to use a program and subscribe to its beliefs, you have to make a choice to trust it and stick with it.

RickMuscle · 06-15-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStreetKing

Your abs are a muscle and need rest. So Training them everyday is a bad idea. Would you train Biceps or Chest everyday?

Great point!

allofthisforyou · 06-15-2009, 01:31 AM

lol... wasn't he on 'roids too?? If you're juicin' then go for it... If not, you might wanna give those little guys a break every now and then (afterall, ARNOLD's workout was probably tailored FOR Arnold)

I used to work my abs almost everyday... Just one set of 50-100 situps (laying down, knees bent, and bringing my palms up to my knees)... Sometimes (maybe 10% of the time), I'd throw a 45 lb plate on my chest and do a few like that, or "situp" and hold for a minute or so (and repeat a few times), with or w/o weight... I was told that the abs are different than any other muscle group and you could work them everyday, so I did (my abs usually wouldn't get sore unless, of course, I killed them with 4 sets of 25, on the decline bench, with a 35lb weight on my chest)...

That was about 7 years ago and I ended up with a pretty killer "8-pack" after a couple of years... In fact, the results were so good that I'll probably start training that way again in a few months 'cause I'm not too happy with the results I'm getting with my current program (right now I'm training my abs as if they were any other muscle group (multiple sets of weighted crunches, with at least 48 hours of rest between workouts)).

Go for it if you can handle it...

Cheers,
Rob

abzz · 06-15-2009, 01:34 AM

i think it sorta depends on how u work them.
if your doing high rep ranges with your own body weight you could work them every second day or so.
but if your doing heavy resistance training and want size to your abs then id give them at least 4 days rest between workouts.

example
pushups=everyday vs chest workout with weights low reps= 4-5 days rest

Senecan · 06-15-2009, 01:37 AM

I like to work abs and calves every other day. Ill just rotate them every day. I like the progress im getting after doing that for 3 months. Try that OP, see if it works for you.

allergic2rice · 06-15-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOSEF RAKICH

This.

Arnold diddnt exctally have the best abs anyway. Just saying, not hating on Arnold or anything lol.

lol truth be told, Arnold had horrible abs compared to other famous bber's in his time. Really his only memorable bodyparts would be chest and arms/bi's. his back was very impressive too, but with modern day definition and separation, it wasn't TOo amazing.

Kostabot · 06-15-2009, 01:43 AM

Your abs are working with practically every compound exercise you do. Isolating them every day doesnt give them a chance to heal. I'd recommend isolating 3 times a week (4 at most), and relying on your compound lifts the rest of the week for maintenence.

anthem1 · 06-15-2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kostabot

Your abs are working with practically every compound exercise you do. Isolating them every day doesnt give them a chance to heal. I'd recommend isolating 3 times a week (4 at most), and relying on your compound lifts the rest of the week for maintenence.

This.

J_Bo · 06-15-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStreetKing

Your abs are a muscle and need rest. So Training them everyday is a bad idea. Would you train Biceps or Chest everyday?

See I understand this argument, But do people really have the same goals for abs as they do for chest and biceps? I don't want any abdominal hypertrophy. So I feel that by purposely keeping them overtrained, you will condition the muscles, making them harder and tighter, without increasing the size.

chazzy1864 · 06-15-2009, 07:15 AM

Look, you can do ANY exercise for ANY bodypart ANY days of the week. It all depends on volume. Frequency is directly related to volume per workout you do.

If you give the muscle it's own day, and hit it for 45-60 minutes, you might want to keep it to once a week. If you add it into another body parts workout, and slam it for 10-20 minutes, sure.. 2-3x a week should be good. If you do it as an afterthought, maybe a lot of high rep stuff, or give it a few sets at the end of every workout; every day should be fine.

Forumite · 06-15-2009, 08:19 AM

I trained mine only a couple days a week and saw nothing. Started doing them between 4-6 and noticed alot of progress. I just hate training them.

bodeebuilder · 06-15-2009, 01:10 PM

I am for doing daily workouts on your abs, you can varying the execrises trying to focus on a your abs, love handles.

Remember abs are muscles which you are trying to tone so i feel working on them on a daily basis is the right way to go about it.

LB3 · 06-15-2009, 01:22 PM

I remember once as a young buck, watching Kathy Ireland on TV talking about how you can work your ABs every day b/c they act differently than other muscles in the body.

Pretty sure it was an ESPN2 morning special. Pretty sure I had one hand on the remote...

So, if Kathy Ireland said it was good to go, I think you have your answer.

lancs_hotpot · 06-15-2009, 01:28 PM

Treat them like any other muscle. If you trained chest or biceps hard and intense with heavy weight every day then you wouldnt get very far. If you want growth and development train them once or twice a week with added resistance.

If you do sit ups or crunches everyday you will just increase endurance.

Preservations · 06-15-2009, 01:30 PM

I've tried doing arnys workout for a month was on No-explode, and cellmass gained 5 pounds of pure muscle in a month after my month trial was done rested for a good week...everybody is a little different some heal faster then others and others are slow healers...

lancs_hotpot · 06-15-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preservations

I've tried doing arnys workout for a month was on No-explode, and cellmass gained 5 pounds of pure muscle in a month after my month trial was done rested for a good week...everybody is a little different some heal faster then others and others are slow healers...

I doubt that.

Al Swearengen · 06-15-2009, 01:41 PM

absolutely and you can even wake up in the middle of the night and hit them again if you like.

Irish85 · 06-15-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint436

Reps for yah

lets not forget arnold was a juice monkey

TheStreetKing · 06-15-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preservations

I've tried doing arnys workout for a month was on No-explode, and cellmass gained 5 pounds of pure muscle in a month after my month trial was done rested for a good week...everybody is a little different some heal faster then others and others are slow healers...

5lbs of muscle in a month (Naturally)? How much crack was u smoking? Cause this is complete bull****!

DioRoxMySox · 06-15-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmoothyKing

this^^

i used to be a follower of the arnold gospel until i saw him, on camera in the documentary pumping iron, say he gives a lot of bull**** advice to people to set them back so he could stay on top

Don't use Pumping Iron to judge of any of the bodybuilders character. Much of the movie was staged to add drama. Watch the special features, Arnie goes over it. Like the part with Mike Katz shirt and everything, it was just for entertainment. I do totally agree that a lot of their advice was wrong due to steriods and old school training style, but I don't think Arnie intentionally misled as many people as the movie seemed to portray.