To Train Abs Or Not

[Legion Kreinak2]

I've noticed lately that my chest is developing nicely, however, my upper abdominals still stick out about at much as them. There's a depression from below the nipples (around the soloplexes) to the abdominals. Perhaps it's because I made incline bench my primary 5x5 exercse on chest days. Either that or because I continue to train my abs two days a week. It could be both, also.

I figure that once I'm done with this next six weeks (on week four) of this 5x5, I'll do it again but with flat bench as the primary. Back/shoulder day follows too, so my shoulders shouldn't be as fatigued.

I was wondering if I should bother to train abs anymore? I use weights, because I want to build a bigger abdominal wall so when I lose the bodyfat this Summer I'll have sick abs, but have noticed the abs grow faster than the chest... by far.

 

[t3c]

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=217790

Just my opinion but i think it would be pretty crazy to neglect such an important area such as the abs.

 

[casualbb]

I don't currently train abs at all. I was training them for growth, and grow they did! Now they're almost too big.

My opinion is this: if there every becomes a point when your abs are the weak link in a lift, by definition they will be stressed by the lift and will thus improve in strength until they cease to be the weak link.

-casualbb

 

[skaman607]

you need to work abs, they don't really have that much growth potential, so your pecs will catch up eventually, and having a strong core early on will help you later also

 

[Vortexx]

I feel that 5 * 5 flat bench has more spillover to upperchest size and stregth than incline bench has to lower chest, it is just a matter of being able to use more weight and also a bit of biomechanics, because for the lower pecs to contract you want to pull your shoulders downward while incline benches you want to raise your shoulders and use front/delt front traps as assist.


May i suggest:

5 * 5 flat bench
7 * 9 incline bench

 

[skaman607]

7x9? I don't know about you , but I would overtrain from that

 

[Vortexx]

Your building sick abs, that's cool, it just sucks that chest takes more time to blow up, but in time it will mature and in concert with the thick abdominal wall.

If you are really concerned with symmetry and sticking out abs, you need to actually reduce some of its size, but keeping as much detail as possible, you might want to do bodyweight only exercises such as hanging leg raises and crunches.

I had exactly the same thing that if I did roman chairs with heavy plates across my chest, the abs stuck out in no time. Granted I lacked chest size, but I switch to bodyweight ab exercises once I feel my abs have enough overall size/strength.