Abs and lower back

[anthrax]

What do you do to strengthen your abs and lower back?

I almost never do direct work for that
Mostly DL, SLDL, front squat etc
Is it enough?

 

[Czar87]

It could be 'til you hurt your lower back.

It depends how much you lift, if your dealift gets a lot stronger you need to do some ab work, try needsize abs 1-2x per week.

 

[silver_shadow]

GMs are a great exercise for the core

 

[Guinness5.0]

This is a question I constantly wrestle with, because I hate ab work.

Lately I've noticed that I get DOMS in my abs when I do heavy RDLs.

My guess is that it is a good idea to do ab work but not 100% necessary unless they are the weak area of the lift (like if you tend to collapse forward on squas/DLs). Just my $0.02

 

[enigma4dub]

This is a question I constantly wrestle with, because I hate ab work.

Lately I've noticed that I get DOMS in my abs when I do heavy RDLs.

My guess is that it is a good idea to do ab work but not 100% necessary unless they are the weak area of the lift (like if you tend to collapse forward on squas/DLs). Just my $0.02

this is something im struggling with. i dont know when to add these. my lower back generally gets really beat up during the course of a program. and it seems like the level of fatigue in my core is too much to do these. is all of the compound movements sufficent? i notice doms from power cleans in my abs...

 

[babaa]

side deadlifts

 

[Protobuilder]

My trick is to never increase my squat or deadlift so that I never need additional ab work. Working well so far.

 

[petpre61]

overhead squats are great for the core as well, but since PB is pretty much a
weight lifting legend I would follow his advice.

 

[SgtSlaughter]

weighted decline crunches.

I developed slight loardisis (sp?!) over the course of some time... and was exponentially made worst by not doing any direct ab work during 5x5... serious lower back pain ensued.

Still have issues, I can't pull from the floor heavy like I used to yet. Sucks.

My erectors are strong as hell, my abs weaker than my pinkie finger... made for a bad combo.

 

[thegoodfoods]

Hammer Strength Abdominal Crunch is by far the best thing i've ever done for abs. first, i was doing loads of strict weighted crunches and sit-ups, but the day after doing 3 sets of that thing.... let's put it this way.. i had to roll over to get up off from my bed that morning. sore for over a week...

i just started doing regular DL's and my lower back's blowin up. the best thing for MY lower back so far

 

[Chambewy20]

I've always been of the mindset that strong abs help prevent lower back injuries... I'll never again have a six pack or aspire to but I will always train heavy ass abs and not sweat the little shit...

I always do heavy standing abs or weighted sit ups as a warm up... I try to keep the ab exercises in the same plane as the lifts I attempt to improve...

 

[SgtSlaughter]

Hammer Strength Abdominal Crunch is by far the best thing i've ever done for abs. first, i was doing loads of strict weighted crunches and sit-ups, but the day after doing 3 sets of that thing.... let's put it this way.. i had to roll over to get up off from my bed that morning. sore for over a week...

i just started doing regular DL's and my lower back's blowin up. the best thing for MY lower back so far

cuz you didn't do them consistantly. Sore = not conditioned to do something

Do them for a month, don't destroy them the first time you do them (I did the same thing)... ease back into it and you'll be doing more weight in no time.

Anything worth doing ain't easy brother.

 

[dline]

I like doing core work 4 times out of the week at the end of my session. Ya it sucks I know but a strong core I feel helps more than it hurts. Try rotating exercises for your front, back, and obliques. Although my favorites are: Weighted Need Size Abs, Weighted Good Mornings, and Weighted Oblique Crunches.

 

[coolcolj]

look in my log and all shall be revealed

 

[H_T_]

one handed DL's. front & suitcase style. halting DL's.

 

[perp69]

I do em twice a week-weighted declines and weighted leg lifts. Figure it couldn't hurt and don't want to find after the fact that I needed them.

Perp

 

[thegoodfoods]

cuz you didn't do them consistantly. Sore = not conditioned to do something

Do them for a month, don't destroy them the first time you do them (I did the same thing)... ease back into it and you'll be doing more weight in no time.

Anything worth doing ain't easy brother.

i understand... as i got used to it the soreness slowly dissipated. but it's still the best strength exercise for my abs.