How many DO NOT do any direct ab work ?

[Dave949]

First off....I am not against, in any way, shape or form of doing direct ab work.

I haven`t done any "direct" ab work in over 10 years. I have a full, well developed six pack and obliques. Good genetics ? Possibly/probably/maybe.

However.... IMHO.....I feel the development of my abs and the fact I do not work them directly gives a heck of a lot of credence to just how "much" other muscles are stimulated indirectly when practicing compound movements, aka squats, deads, rows, OHP, cleans, etc. My workouts from day one have always been centered around the big basics and they will always be.

So....anyone out there wanna share your thoughts about doing/ not doing any direct ab work ???

 

[Cuthbert]

I didn't for a long time... but now I do, and I think it makes a big difference in strength in the squat, deadlift, and other lifts.

As far as definition goes... I don't know, and it really isnt a priority of mine.

 

[Dave949]

I think it makes a big difference in strength in the squat, deadlift, and other lifts.

Thats kinda my point Cut in a vica versa way. I feel the lifts you and I mentioned is what gives one the strength in the midsection.
My abs are thick, developed and strong from doing the big basics and not from working the abs to make the big basics stronger.

 

[Cuthbert]

Thats kinda my point Cut in a vica versa way. I feel the lifts you and I mentioned is what gives one the strength in the midsection.
My abs are thick, developed and strong from doing the big basics and not from working the abs to make the big basics stronger.

Exactly.. one hand washes the other... squats and deads made my abs strong... but increasing ab strength, in turn, helped my squat and deadlift. Work them both for optimum gains.

Cuthbert

 

[slobberknocker]

I didn't for a long time... but now I do, and I think it makes a big difference in strength in the squat, deadlift, and other lifts.

Me too.

 

[b fold the truth]

I do direct ab work 3x per week. It has helped me for sure. Just look at how I nearly killed myself this past week on that squat miss...and I thank myself for training my abs hard and heavy.

People comment a lot recently about my abs...and how I actually have them now. They want to know what I've been 'doing' to get them to come out.

First of all...I am 26 and have been lifting for 10 years. I have been training my abs now for about 14 months. THANKS CHEESE!!!! I spent 8 years thinking that I got enough ab work from doing the core lifts...and maybe come crunches a time or two a year.

In the last 14 months...I have changed quite a few things in my routine...but one of those was training my abs HARD and HEAVY. The result? HUGE progress in my squat, deadlift, and events. Another result is...I now have abs.

B True

 

[Imakarum_Mirabilis]

I don't train mine. Compounds take care of them in *my* case.

 

[WalkingBeast]

I agree with Cutbert. Since I recently started training abs for a few heavy sets 3-4X a week its made me alot stronger on deadlifts and variations of deads. Big difference. For example, when I pulled 565 off the floor (Beast Lift,deadlift with bar behind legs) for the first time it felt like something in my stomache was pinching, about to pop out, I struggled it out and got it anyway. Soon after training my abs a few times I felt no pain or instability and felt real strong when I got 585 a few weeks later. I definately think seperate ab training is best if your looking to strengthen your compound lifts. Why not get your core even stronger? Bfolds AB thread inspired me to do so, and I have no regrets.

 

[BileStew]

I haven`t done any "direct" ab work in over 10 years. I have a full, well developed six pack and obliques. Good genetics ? Possibly/probably/maybe.

What would be a good direct ab workout?

 

[STEP OFF]

i only do when my bf is low enough to actually see them ... when im bulking, im too lazy to do any ab work, prolly should, but prolly not gonna happen

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I've been very lazy about training them in the past. I would justify it by thinking "I really don't need to train them".

One thing that irks me is the guys that have a layer of fat on their stomach, and they do tons of crunches and ab roller exercices, thinking that's somehow going to magically give them abs. I have a friend that's been doing that for years. That's the reason he trains abs - to get a slimmer midsection. I guess there's millions of people like that.

 

[Debaser]

For core strength and to prevent injury, ab training is very valuable. Cosmetically they don't seem to be influenced much. I've never seen a large guy with underdeveloped abs--they seem to just grow along with the rest of your body.

 

[needsize]

I do 5 sets of 8 reps, static holds, with a 45lb plate, at most 1x per week to maintain core strength, and absolutely nothing other than big deads and squats for obliques and intercostals. But as you can see from the pics I posted, its more than enough

 

[Dave949]

nothing other than big deads and squats for obliques and intercostals. But as you can see from the pics I posted, its more than enough

And you have some killer world class abs Need !!!!

I feel the deads and the squats (especially when coming out of the bottom hole) put a tremendous amount of stress on the midsection. Bent over rows is another I really feel my midsection on.

After reading some of the previous posts, I just may start doing a 2 or 3 sets of heavy, relatively low (8 - 10) reps again for my midsection once a week to experiment and see how it affect my big lifts.

 

[Dave949]

One thing that irks me is the guys that have a layer of fat on their stomach, and they do tons of crunches and ab roller exercices, thinking that's somehow going to magically give them abs. I guess there's millions of people like that.

How True........Millions of (misinformed) people who don`t have abs !!!!. Correction......they have abs, they`re just hidden by a layer of you know what.

I can`t understand where the logic originated from that doing really high rep ab work will bring out the abs !!!!

 

[lavi]

psst... im a misinformed person. its much better to do like 3 sets of 8-10 with heavy weight? thnx

 

[Dave949]

psst... im a misinformed person. its much better to do like 3 sets of 8-10 with heavy weight? thnx

Correction Lavi ....you "were" a misinformed person......you are now a reformed misinformed person and becoming more informed everyday

 

[faller]

I had given up doing direct ab work for awhile. My posture makes my stomach stick out, so I didn't want to add any bulk if I could help it. Plus they get lots of indirect work. However, reading everyone else's posts, I may start it up again!

 

[ToTall]

I didnt do any direct work till about 3 months ago. Then i started heavy decline situps, leg raises and crunchs till burn out at the end of my ab workout. I have had steady p.r. in squats, deadlift and powercleans since I started. Iam pleased with my results and will stick to heavy progressive ab work.

 

[WarriorPL]

I find no comfort in laying ab work. I occasionally do crunches... but now i swear by standing cable crunches. After doing 5 sets of these, the next day feel like i was hit in the stomach with a bat.

 

[needsize]

a lot of people buy into the spot reduction theory, that if they do tons of situps then they will get great abs, doesnt work that way though...much more efficient and effective to hit them hard and heavy and be done with it

 

[ectomorph-man]

I dont do any ab work because I get work on them from doing squats, and most other standing presses. Im a serious hardgainer and I need all the recovery time I can get and I leave acessory movements like ab curls out.