Is is better to do like sets of 100 crunches without weight.. or do like 3x8 weighte

[Db88]

Is is better to do like sets of 100 crunches without weight.. or do like 3x8 weighted

whats better for your abs?

[dvsness]

In the off season I did higher rep unweighted crunches, hanging leg raises and decline crunches. I feel that the addition of weighted ab movements now is helping to bring them up a bit more. I have found that doing 2-3 movements using 3-4 sets of 12-15 reps works best for me.

[gymgrown]

100 crunches unweighted is more of a high intensity cardio exercise than a weight training exercise. Both have their value, but for bulking the 3x8 is what you want.

[DJAuto]

The weighted movement.

[Tyciol]

I think moving up to 100 reps is a great idea but once you can do it, it seems like weighted would be a better way to spend time, even if just a light weight to move up to those reps again.

[dethmetalanimal]

Is is better to do like sets of 100 crunches without weight.. or do like 3x8 weighted

whats better for your abs?

look at it this way: is benching just the bar for a hundred reps better or is it better to add weight and do 3x8? abs are just the same as every other muscle in the since that if you want to add mass, you have to increase the weight/resistance.

[rockhuddy]

weighted

[ChacoTom]

As far as I know, there's only one muscle in your body that works differently from the rest of your muscles - your heart. Your ab muscles work like the rest of your muscles. Would you do 100 reps for your quads or your hams or your triceps?

[lilpinki]

weighed...... 100 reps is equivalent to cardio IMO

[Mtguy8787]

100 crunches unweighted is more of a high intensity cardio exercise than a weight training exercise. Both have their value, but for bulking the 3x8 is what you want.

weighed...... 100 reps is equivalent to cardio IMO

Not really, because it is pretty small compared the the muscles used when running or rowing

[QoorbaL]

3x 8 seems too little to me.How much weight are you talking?

[Josiah]

Not really, because it is pretty small compared the the muscles used when running or rowing

The size of the muscles worked doesn't effect the heart rate like that. Rep Rate & Intensity Does. The Ab's might be small(er), but you are moving your entire bodis blood content at the same rate. Depending on the Rep Rate and Rep Intensity the heart rate will re-act to move blood faster. 100 intense crunches will get your heart going a lot more then a relaxing row. Cardio is about heart rate, not really much more then that actually.

Also by what method do you call the Ab's small? That's a pretty big sheet of muscle, actually several layered sheets of muscle.
Considering it starts just below your chest and extends all the way down (lil father for guys?) that's a pretty big area of muscle. The individual Calf and Forearms muscles would have much less actual mass then the ab muscles.


Depends on your goals, if you want to build more ab muscle.. then of course weighted, smaller sets. If you just want to condition the muscle, like for swimming or such, then high-rep unweighted.
Though my contention is you can't hit the ab's fully with just crunches, hanging leg extensions and raises are very important to really get them to stretch out. Also, I think it was A-Trainer who had a killer ab excerise, don't remember the name.

[Db88]

3x 8 seems too little to me.How much weight are you talking?

well i do two different ab exercises with 3x8

on this crunch machine i do 3x8 with 140 lbs.

the leg raise i do with a 15 lb weight inbetween my feet.


and thanks for all the help everyone

[Mtguy8787]

The size of the muscles worked doesn't effect the heart rate like that. Rep Rate & Intensity Does. The Ab's might be small(er), but you are moving your entire bodis blood content at the same rate. Umm no.. Heart rate and blood pressure are directly affected by the size of muscles used, aka. total work being done. Anyone with some common sense can figure that out.


Also by what method do you call the Ab's small? That's a pretty big sheet of muscle, actually several layered sheets of muscle. Small compared to quads+glutes+calves+arm movement...

Using your logic, doing bicep curls at a high pace would be an effective method of cardio.

[gymgrown]

Using your logic, doing bicep curls at a high pace would be an effective method of cardio.

And that's not entirely false. You ever whaled on a punching bag for a while and seen how fast you wear out? It's mainly a shoulders/tris workout, but you'll be huffing and puffing very fast.

[Mtguy8787]

And that's not entirely false. You ever whaled on a punching bag for a while and seen how fast you wear out? It's mainly a shoulders/tris workout, but you'll be huffing and puffing very fast.

no, its not 'mainly' a tricep and shoulder workout.

Your legs, core, and chest are all (greatly) involved.

You ever see someone whaling on a punching bag, with their entire body motionless, except for their arms?


That logic is 100% false.

The amount of work involved doing crunches is much, much less than other forms of exercise.

Basically, doing 100-200 crunches arent going to burn very many calories.
If you were doing fast paced circuit training as a form cardio, you could throw crunches into the mix, just not by themselves.

[Carmen0857]

Why not do both?

[deadmilkman]

Why not do both?

Thank you Carmen0857, I was thinking the same thing while reading this entire thread. Just like "any other muscle" you need a range of movements and exercises. Go heavy low rep, and light high rep. Hit em' from all angles. Just my 2cents.

[TunaBreath]

I prefer weighted, but with slightly higher reps. Usually 15.

Build the abdominals up just like any other muscle group. The bigger they are, the deeper the cuts will be when you shed the fat in front of them.

[papi93]

Is is better to do like sets of 100 crunches without weight.. or do like 3x8 weighted

whats better for your abs?

Depends on your goal.

100 for local muscular endurance.

3x8 for hypertrophy (along with strength).