Hey Fess' friend.
This is Kian
Although some people will tell you that the abdominals are one muscle group which you can train every day with good results, the fact that they are comprised of muscle tissue means that they require rest just like any other muscle to develop properly. So whether it is chest, abs, bis, etc., you will want to set up a workout routine which will allow atleast one days rest between exercising the same muscle group to ensure optimum development.
For your other question ... Your muscles will develop within their genetic potential and as a result of resistance training supported by a healthy diet. So as long as you train and eat right, your muscles will develop.
BUT they will not keep developing for ever and ever. As you are reading this, you have lost somewhere between 200,000 and 3,000,000 cells every second. If you are very young, the vast majority of these cells will have been replaced. As you get older, this regenerative process gets less efficient. No matter what you do or try, the number of cells you lose will gradually increase and the number of cells replaced will gradually decrease. Since muscle is comprised of tissue which is comprised of cells, this slow-down in the regenerative process also affects muscle. This is where your genetic potential will be seen. If you have good genes then you will be able to develop your physique further than others and to a later point in your life. If not, then you will find out that gravity really does suck.
So your training should ensure that each
muscle group (ie: Chest - pectoralis major/sternal, pectoralis major/clavicular, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior) is utilised through its complete range of motion to maximise development. This can be achieved in the following manner:
- by performing a variety of exercises targeting a specific muscle group
- changing the angle of the movement
- changing the mechanics of the exercise from a compound to an isolated movement or visa/versa
- change the movement from a push (press) to a pull or visa/versa
- increase the resistance (additional weight)
- increase the number of sets - see note
- increase the frequency of your training - see note
NOTE: For the last two points you will have to find a balance which suits your training and expectations. Remember that you need rest for your body to repair itself and for your muscles to develop. Overtraining is detrimental to your overall development and, in some cases, you will lose mass, so take your time and find out what works best for you.
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KP--Fitness Basics
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