Are any ab machines for real???

[muscelove]

the ab roller does burn like a bitch.

 

[silver_shadow]

lol, obviously you're not going to start with a 45 if you've never done decline sit-ups before. Start with bodyweight and work your way up. There's no magic number of sets and reps, but 2-3 sets for 8-15 reps would be a reasonable starting point.

better than the plate on the chest (when you do reach that stage) is the plate held behind your head (i hear some guys use a dumbell on their forehead with a hand towel to rest it).

 

[Cynical Simian]

better than the plate on the chest (when you do reach that stage) is the plate held behind your head (i hear some guys use a dumbell on their forehead with a hand towel to rest it).

See my post in AB's journal about this. All else being equal, I agree that behind the head would be better, but it's difficult to do progressive loading in small increments (i.e., 2.5 lbs) that way due to the awkwardness of holding plates of various diameters behind the head.

 

[jpt]

just do rope crunches....just as good as decline sit ups with a plate imo and less awkward. and better for your back....

 

[Cynical Simian]

Why are properly performed decline sit-ups bad for your back?

 

[musclemom]

Does anyone have any insight on any ab machines that are worth buying...maybe like how good is an ab lounge and all that?

I just have the hardest time doing sit-ups or crunches. I feel like my form is right, but maybe my spine is curved awkwardly or something, because I feel alot of pain in my lower back.

If anyone can help me out if any product is worth buying or maybe if you have any suggestions for me that would be grand thanks

If you are getting back pain doing a situp for god's sake don't do the frigging thing. I have a royally frigged up lower back, situps kill me all the way down to my tailbone.

If you want to do isolated ab movements, do hanging leg lifts (the least painful if you have lower back issues) or any one of the seated or kneeling crunches on the machines. If you don't have access to that kind of equipment, then look into a Swiss ball and the various exercises that can be done on that.

 

[Cynical Simian]

Take a look at some of the advice, links, and stretches that have been posted in sgtslaughter's journal. If you're like most people, you don't stretch your hip flexors, and their tightness likely contributes to your odd back curvature. Another common issue is viewing ab training from a purely aesthetic perspective, which, if you're significantly strengthening your posterior chain with your main lifts, can lead to imbalances.

 

[Kabeetz]

Whatever you do I don't recommend the cross crunch It's a little black plastic with stickers all over it and they send u green tea pills for months afterwards. Two of my friends bought it when they were judgment impaired one night (its 2 for price of 1). Has to be one of the funniest ab gadgets ever.

 

[mad dipz]

Take a look at some of the advice, links, and stretches that have been posted in sgtslaughter's journal. If you're like most people, you don't stretch your hip flexors, and their tightness likely contributes to your odd back curvature. Another common issue is viewing ab training from a purely aesthetic perspective, which, if you're significantly strengthening your posterior chain with your main lifts, can lead to imbalances.

how do I find his journal? sorry I'm kind of new to the site so I don't know my way around too well

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500458