abs: weight or no weight

[flexygrl]

I've been thinking about this a lot. I hardly ever do abs. i know this is bad. I just don't have any motivation to do them. I still have a layer of fat, so you can't really see any definition. Well, I decided that I'm going to start making it a staple in my workout so...


Weights or No weights. If I go to my gym at work during lunch they have no ab machines. If I do a 2 minute ab routine just using my own body as resistance is this as good as waiting till I can get to my other gym and doing "real" abs on the "real" machines?

If I wait to do abs at night I usually get to lazy to do them and just say, there's always tomorrow. Well I odo this so much that I eventually just never do abs. Thanks!

 

[Becoming]

I reccomend taking whichever approach gets you doing them on a consistent basis. Consistent work is the only way to improvement.

If you do them at work, you don't need an ab machine (machines suck IMO), just hold a dumbell or a plate on your chest...you will get faster results.

And work on the layer of fat, I know it takes time, but you won't really start to see huge results until that comes off. With some consistent effort, the abs will be waiting for you when the fat comes off.

Good Luck.

 

[Scotsman]

Solid advice Becoming. Flexy just do what you can until you get into the rythm of doing abs regularly. You can firm up and strengthen your abs with just your body weight. Also be glad you don't have a big layer of fat covering them like I do

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[b fold the truth]

I use weight and a full ROM. I actually prefer bands to be honest...

B True

 

[from zero]

I guess it all depends on your goals. I use weight, because stronger abs = stronger core = stronger lifts = more size.

 

[Deleted member 33117]

I really like high pully cable crunches, plus they are very easy to throw in at the end of a workout on your way out the door of the gym. I just do a couple sets of slow reps to failure with the whole stack.

 

[makedah]

I hated ab work and avoided it because I hated getting on the floor. Plus, it was so uncomfortable. Now, I never get on the floor for abs and I enjoy working them. I do standing abs at the end of one of my leg days, like BodybyFinaplix described. But not with the whole stack! I also do oblique work once a week - weighted. I do weighted work for the same reasons that Ceebs so succinctly gave.

This is a great page on abdominal training: http://www.stumptuous.com/abtraining.html

 

[lucidblue]

I use weight with ab work. I usually just hold plates and do crunches and oblique work. I also do hanging leg raises, haven't added weight yet though.

 

[fitgrl]

Question! After dieting and cardio I can see my abs, BUT there is not much to see. What is a good ab workout to build muscle? Weights?

Fitgrl

 

[Backlash]

Congrats - the dieting is the hard part. Use any of the routines posted in this thread to build up the muscle.

 

[fitgrl]

Thanks
Fitgrl

 

[flexygrl]

thanks everyone!

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Makedah, high pully crunches are just so convenient. Its ok if you don't use the whole stack yet, I do have a couple ibs on you.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I use any of these

Straight legged sit ups
Hanging Leg Raises
Leg Lifts
Crunches
Standing Abs
Spread Eagle sit ups
Bicycle Kicks

Since I have been using weight as resistance I have found my abdominal region to be considerably stronger. It makes sense to me to use weight and build that muscle. I never said it was big lol but it is strong.

 

[b fold the truth]

PolishHammer1977:

Have you noticed a large increase in waist size from doing these?

B True

 

[PolishHammer1977]

PolishHammer1977:

Have you noticed a large increase in waist size from doing these?

B True

No. If anything I have lost waist sizes. I am size noodle at this point lol.

 

[makedah]

Makedah, high pully crunches are just so convenient. Its ok if you don't use the whole stack yet, I do have a couple ibs on you.

Okay - but one day I'll pull that whole mofo!

 

[OfWolfandMan]

I like incline sit ups with bands...full ROM like B fold said.I also like flat sit ups with a plate behind my head,or a band,and hanging leg raises with no weight.That and training without a belt has seemed to help me alot

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Okay - but one day I'll pull that whole mofo!

That's the spirit! It's hard to do it if the stack outweighs you though... but I have faith in you.

As a side note, I don't know if my faith is strong enough to hold you down though when the stack pulls you off the floor on your first rep though...

 

[makedah]

It's hard to do it if the stack outweighs you though...

Oh. Forgot about that. tee hee!

 

[lucidblue]

Question! After dieting and cardio I can see my abs, BUT there is not much to see. What is a good ab workout to build muscle? Weights?

Fitgrl

I asked a similar question to this on the women's board and got some good feedback.... here's the link:

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=240619

Hope it helps.