How often to work abs??

[00Baller]

Heres the situation.. ive been neglecting my abs for a few years and I just got back into the groove of doing them. I just did them yesterday and they are a bit sore, should I hit them again today or wait til tomorrow? Basically, my question is am I allowed to do abs two days in a row .... I don't have much ab muscle so I would guess that I should give my abs some time to recover

[papi93]

Are you doing them weighted or bodyweight-only?

[%%%%]

I'd say 3 times a week. monday-wed-friday or tues-thurs-friday. That should be enough.

[kirk_rintoule]

I do my abbs once to twice a week and have had awesome results! Your abbs are just like any other muscle. You need to smash them and give them time to repair. I hear about these people who train them every day, SO STUPID

besides you use your abbs/core for alot of your workouts eg squats, deadlifts, shoulder press etc!

[Westside_Reflex]

i had good results training them 2x per week. first session, focusing on the rectus abdominus eg. weighted situps, leg raises etc. second session, focusing on the obliques eg dumbbell side bends, russian twists etc.

[TheGame240]

It really depends on how hard you're hitting them. You can do them as little as once a week or everyday depending on the amount of work.

For example if you were working out 4 days per week, you could add a couple of sets of weighted sit-ups to the end of each workout.

Alternatively you could designate a day to do abs. In that case you would hit them much hard. Something like 3 sets of weighted sit-ups, 3 sets of cable crunches, and 2-3 sets of weighted leg raises.

Overall volume for the week would be about the same, 8 sets total compared to 8-9 sets. The results would be pretty equal as well.

[dmd5004]

I do my abbs once to twice a week and have had awesome results! Your abbs are just like any other muscle. You need to smash them and give them time to repair. I hear about these people who train them every day, SO STUPID

besides you use your abbs/core for alot of your workouts eg squats, deadlifts, shoulder press etc!

Well, I do my ab almost everyday...they are strong and look awesome! Yeah, I have heavy ab days and light ab days. Heavy with weights everyother day, Light with just bodyweight on the days in between.
*In the beginning if your abs are really sore give them a day to rest do push it!

[!Demon!]

3 times a week is ok...Between each 2 times a day\2 off

[NY Money Mike]

3 times a week is ok...Between each 2 times a day\2 off

THIS IS INCREDIBLE:

Bench:
225 lb (102.3 kg) 2 reps you shoulder press more than you bench
Shoulders Press:
235 lb (106.8 kg) 2 reps
Cable Rows :
352 lb (160 kg) 4X10 VID or it didnt happen
Cable push downs :
209 lb (95 kg) 4X10
Leg press :
528 lb (240 kg) 3X10
Leg Extensions:
319 lb (145 kg) yeah cause everyone weight stack goes up that high, I know you attach 3 45's to it...
Pull-downs :
36 reps-record
Lat Pull-downs :
407 lb (185 kg) 3X10 1X5-6 o'rly

[typ40]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE:

Leg Extensions:
319 lb (145 kg) yeah cause everyone weight stack goes up that high, I know you attach 3 45's to it...

with the new ways for calculating the resistance (see the thread abt counting the bar in pullups) this may actually be possible

[!Demon!]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE:

Bench:
225 lb (102.3 kg) 2 reps you shoulder press more than you bench
Shoulders Press:
235 lb (106.8 kg) 2 reps
Cable Rows :
352 lb (160 kg) 4X10 VID or it didnt happen
Cable push downs :
209 lb (95 kg) 4X10
Leg press :
528 lb (240 kg) 3X10
Leg Extensions:
319 lb (145 kg) yeah cause everyone weight stack goes up that high, I know you attach 3 45's to it...
Pull-downs :
36 reps-record
Lat Pull-downs :
407 lb (185 kg) 3X10 1X5-6 o'rly

My english sux..can u explane what u mean?

with the new ways for calculating the resistance (see the thread abt counting the bar in pullups) this may actually be possible

I didnt colculate anything , thats the w8 train with...

[Bill_Rizer]

1-3x a week depending on genetics and how much you train them each day.
Some people don't even do ab exercises and rely on lifts such as the deadlift and squat to strengthen abs.

Personally, I do them once a week and do a bunch of heavy core work.

[fuzzy hair]

5 days a week, 3x10 for upper with 10k weight and 3x10 for lower.

[NY Money Mike]

My english sux..can u explane what u mean?



I didnt colculate anything , thats the w8 train with...

BAsically, i'm saying I don't believe a word of those E-stats

[!Demon!]

BAsically, i'm saying I don't believe a word of those E-stats

Hmm kinda thought so...it is ur right..
Me , my friends know they real , thats enough for me

[Y_I_K_E_S]

Once a week. But I hammer them until I can't sit up straight the next day.

[DJAuto]

Most coaches recommend 2-4 times a week.

[00Baller]

Thanks for the input guys ... I was leaning towards doing them 3x/week

[Tallbill]

Leg Extensions:
319 lb (145 kg) yeah cause everyone weight stack goes up that high, I know you attach 3 45's to it...

The machine at my gym takes plates only. Starting weight is 7 pounds, I put a 100 and a 45 on each side, so 22 more pounds is almost believable.

[alytaber]

I do my abbs once to twice a week and have had awesome results! Your abbs are just like any other muscle. You need to smash them and give them time to repair. I hear about these people who train them every day, SO STUPID

besides you use your abbs/core for alot of your workouts eg squats, deadlifts, shoulder press etc!

I understand where you are coming from with your post about giving your abs a rest, but because your abs are your core and are always working, they are what you could say programed to recover quicker. The same goes for your calves. You can do a hard workout on both your abs and your calves everyday, they will be sore and what not but you can hit um again the next day and not have any problems with them being over worked. I believe it and to back it up there are many body building sources that will say the same, the main one I can think of off the top of my head is Arnold's Encyclopedia of Body Building! Just thought I would let ya know! Hope it helps!

[MIKES3]

I incorporate Ab workouts in everything I do. Its paying off.

[jmusclehead]

Every other day...Abs can be worked more often than most muscle groups.

[busterwrinkles]

I am confused when to breath in or out during certain ab work outs.

[MIKES3]

I am confused when to breath in or out during certain ab work outs.

Lets say your doing a standing crunch. Inhale on the way up and exhale on the way done. WHile your pushing is the time you want to exhale otherwise you may bust a nad and thats not good.