[iwinulose2980]

ive heard that your supposed to work abs to fatigue not failure also ive heard people say "work abs everyday"
but on the other side i hear people say "rest is very important for muscle growth"

so will i get my 8 pack cut faster by training abs everyday or should i rest them?

thanks for any info

[hypo]

your "8 pack" will only become visible from a result of cutting bodyfat. Contrary to what most think, doing a bunch of situps everyday does not burn fat from the midsection, if it burns much at all.

I train abs with heavy weight much like my other muscles once or twice a week. Basically just whenever i happen to remember them when I'm in the gym. Although I do use about 10 reps instead of my usual 5.

Also remember from a body building standpoint, to achieve the V shape to your body you want a small midsection. Therefore most of your midsection work is actually done in squats and deads, you don't really have to work them out that much.

But to answer your question- try the treadmill for a few weeks instead of the situp bench.

[kmac6225]

good post - abs come w/ cutting bodyfat. You really can't spot reduce fat in just your midsection by doing crunches, situps, etc.

I also agree w/ hypo - train them heavy once or twice a week not everyday/eod. Muscles grow out of the gym w/ rest not by slamming them everyday.

[rajscorps]

That's true. Spot reduction is a myth. The body is designed to burn fat from all over rather than any one particular spot. Males are genetically predisposed to store fat in the midsection so most automatically believe crunches are the way to remove the fat.

I've read in many places that abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym. I think you have gathered the 5-day week ab training routine from one of the bodybuilding mags. Those guys sure mislead people. You may want to train abs once or twice a week and incorporate some high-intensity cardio to burn off the fat. Google HIIT (high intensity interval training).

A six/eight pack is a result of diet + weight training + cardio. The wheel would topple if any one cog is missing. Do your research and design an intelligent routine consisting of all three, and stick to it for three months, at least.

[hypo]

a little off the topic, but remember the number of seperations in your abs, and if they are symetrical or offset, will depend upon genetics. So don't get discouraged if you only see 4 abs protruding, the other four aren't hiding behind fat they simply may not exist

[exnihilo]

Train your abs HEAVY once a week. Then you can be a fatass who still has abs, like me

[max silver]

The best abs I ever had were when I used to train them religously, in the neighbourhood of 4 times a week. Since I backed off the training they just haven't been the same. While diet is key in displaying your abs, it is quite possible to have little or no development, which would leave not much in the way of visible abs, even at lower bodyfat levels. I've seen this especially in ectomorphic body types, where the guy has barely a sliver of fat on him, but no abs to show for it.

[jminis]

I train them twice a week with heavy weight, to failure. I'm about 11-12%bf right now and can still see my abs True abs are different muscle but their still muscles. For example your not going to build impressive biceps by just curling your arms without weight. If you want those highways and deep etches use weight.

[Bouncer79]

I train them every other day.

[glenihan]

train them no more than 2x a week and use weight! it works

[wranglergirl]

I do every other day ..........seems to be doing something...

[DmitryWI]

I never train abs ...Still got it

[Cuffs]

Twice per week with heavy weights. I've seen the most progression by doing it this way.

[BigVrunga]

Me too - just starting training abs with a heavy 12,10,8 rep scheme and Ive seen results in just 2 weeks.

[max silver]

What exercises do you guys find tend to garner the best results? I was performing weighted situps, until one day when I suffered a NASTY abdominal cramp that left my midsection tender for half a week.

[exnihilo]

Weighted situps on the floor with your legs free, and spread at a 45 degree angle or so, weighted situps on a decline bench, with a static hold for 5 seconds at slightly below parallel, crunches with weight on an exercise ball, the ab roller (try from your feet instead of your knees for best results) russian twists on a roman chair (these are torture for the obliques) and side bends.

[Cuffs]

I do the weighted situps on the decline bench...with a pause hold/squeeze, weighted rope-pull crunches with a pause/squeeze, weighted crunches on the execise ball, and weighted leg lifts while sitting at the end of a bench. I believe it's very important to squeeze the abs at each contraction. I don't do high reps, but rather low and heavy.

[NPursuit]

Originally Posted by Cuffs

Twice per week with heavy weights. I've seen the most progression by doing it this way.

This IMO is the best way as well. So many people overtrain abs.