abs-work them or not?

[niceasey]

I've often read that a lot of the pro's don't train their abs. I've also read that a lot of pro's train them daily.

Is it true that abs get a good work out without direct stimualtion?

[$AJ]

imho, yes, get enough from heavy core lifts like squat, etc...

[ed073]

what AJ said....hit 'em once a week if you feel they're lagging or you can't stand the thought of not doing crunches!

[juiceisub3r]

I do 2 sets of 15 of weighted cable crunches on Mon and then on Fri, my abs have improved dramatically doing this...

[xplosiveDL]

I do 2 sets of 15 of weighted cable crunches on Mon and then on Fri, my abs have improved dramatically doing this...

yup. Work abs

[LiL USMC BBer]

I work my abs to give me a strong core to increase my deadlift/squat... no other reason.. I'm not that big of a fan of ripped mid sections.. as long as I don't have a gut.. a flat tummy is all I want but no freakin gay ass waffles...

[MrSinister]

a lot of pros also have the steroid gut so they defeat the purpose of a good set of abs.
Even if u dont care for a ripped six pack or whatever u should work your abs at least once a week directly as was said above, just for core strength factor.
You dont want a super strong lower back and weak abs, u have a high risk of developing problems with an imbalance like that

[Apo]

powerlifteres do it. Powerlifting is a science just as cool as bodybuilding. i say go for it, just dont make it a primary goal.

[Stagger]

I work the abs some, but only if it's a compound movement that just focuses on the abs, like a turkish getup or something. I don't think isolating the abs is necessary.

One or two compound ab exercises plus heavy core lifts are IMO all you need.
I hate crunches.

[LiL USMC BBer]

a lot of pros also have the steroid gut so they defeat the purpose of a good set of abs.
Even if u dont care for a ripped six pack or whatever u should work your abs at least once a week directly as was said above, just for core strength factor.
You dont want a super strong lower back and weak abs, u have a high risk of developing problems with an imbalance like that

uh .... ya? I do agree with you but um.... try reading my post again.. perhaps the whole thing!? lol

if your post wans't aimed toward me then please disregard this...

[MrSinister]

uh .... ya? I do agree with you but um.... try reading my post again.. perhaps the whole thing!? lol

if your post wans't aimed toward me then please disregard this...

it wasnt, i was just saying it in general
i with u all the way with the core strength tho

[LiL USMC BBer]

then please disregard that post

[ed073]

I work the abs some, but only if it's a compound movement that just focuses on the abs, like a turkish getup or something. I don't think isolating the abs is necessary.

One or two compound ab exercises plus heavy core lifts are IMO all you need.
I hate crunches.

OK....what's Turkish get-up? Robes, head scarf??

[Stagger]

OK....what's Turkish get-up? Robes, head scarf??

Hehe. What you do is, grab a dumbell (or if you're hardcore, an empty barbell) and lay down on the ground face up. Hold the weight above you like you're in the top position of a one-arm bench press.

Then, trying to keep the weight moving upwards in a straight line, stand all the way up until you're on your feet and holding the weight straight overhead.

So basically just start by pushing up with your free arm and then standing. You can get up however you want really as long as you try to keep the weight stable and moving up in a straight line.

[Wanker527]

I've often read that a lot of the pro's don't train their abs. I've also read that a lot of pro's train them daily.

Is it true that abs get a good work out without direct stimualtion?

most certainly work them directly 1-2 times per week. if your bodyfat is low enough you will notice a considerable difference, no question.

[ed073]

Hehe. What you do is, grab a dumbell (or if you're hardcore, an empty barbell) and lay down on the ground face up. Hold the weight above you like you're in the top position of a one-arm bench press.

Then, trying to keep the weight moving upwards in a straight line, stand all the way up until you're on your feet and holding the weight straight overhead.

So basically just start by pushing up with your free arm and then standing. You can get up however you want really as long as you try to keep the weight stable and moving up in a straight line.

I like it.

[Zensuji]

all i do at the moment is 3 sets of hanging leg raises a week. great excercise.

i agree with ReSpAwN DeMoN though i don't care about a ripped six/eight pack

[$AJ]

OK....what's Turkish get-up? Robes, head scarf??

lol

[El Dudereno]

I work them directly just like I work hams, obliques, forearms and traps directly - with deadlift

[Nainoa]

My abs used to be soft and crappy... Three or four months ago I started really focusing on my core... Working out three times per week, with 1 set of weighted crunches at the end of every workout.

Then I got a slight ab strain from doing chins, which thanks to an office accident turned into the sports hernia I'm nursing now.

However my doc said "Your abs are rock hard." He talked about how his son has been training for three years hoping to become a competitive body builder and doesn't have abs as hard as mine.

Doc said if I hadn't gotten my abs into such great shape, that my ab strain - sports hernia, would have ruptured and strangulated...

So while nothing will make you impervious to injury, in my case it sure as heck helped that I had made my abs as strong as possible, to lessen the degree of the injury.

Not to mention that with the back work I've done my posture is excellent!

So count me in as a "Yes work the abs."

[JoeGillian]

You should really train them, even only once a week if you want, but train them nonetheless.
They're like any other body part : they need to be trained and not neglected.

As far as I'm concern, I follow good ol' Arnold : I work them everyday (hence 6days/week)with my obliques and I can assure you that they've never looked so defined and so solid !

[GentlemanBadBoy]

I never worked my abs becuase I felt they got worked enough during the week from other exercises. Now that I started working them 3 times a week I've come to realize that you need to work your abs like any other muscle with weight resistance. Here is my ab workout:

1) Weighted cable crunch 5x10 (heaviest weight possible)
2) Hanging leg raises w/weight 5x10 (use a 10-? dumbbell)
3) Weighted crunches

I am not sure what works for everyone else but I can guarantee you that doing this can't hurt you.

[aurovon]

It's a matter of preference. Everyone has abs as we all know, its only the matter of time til you see it(once you lose the fat). If you want it to "pop out" more than usual, then working them out directly will definately help. Eh, whatever floats your boat...