[jaydee]

Originally Posted by jlowsho

different approaches aside, I do agree the abs will grow but not to a ridiculous extent. And I also don't think that growth of ANY muscle comes from low weight high reps. Your abs are muscle tissue no matter which way you slice it. If low weight high reps builds muscle then how come X-country runner's legs aren't tree trunks?

Doing explosive crunches in sets to burnout with intervals is nothing like running a x-country. It is short bursts of power. Think sprinter. Are sprinters lacking in muscle size? If you do explosive knee tucks in sets with a short rest you will gain muscle size in your legs, no doubt about it. And why do chicks who run a lot and do aerobics have great calfs? Every muscle responds differently IMO.

Also the crunches do get slower as your squeezing them out at the end of a set so they do get a good squeeze as your trying to get the last few reps out. Thats what i mean when i say going to failure. Not stopping as soon as i cant get a lightening fast one out..

[jlowsho]

explosive crunches = pumping of legs, unless you roll on wheels there will be at least a fraction of rest.

Sprinters take long rests inbetween sets of heavy weight. Sprinters don't JUST sprint 100m for the 100m they also weight train. They also don't run 100m back to back to back to back. That's called the 400 and is a completely different training method.

That's great that you believe that, and in a way your right. Muscle fibres can adapt to certain methods of training, but the same fibres that are in your legs - like the sprinters - intensity coupled with lots of rests (or short duration) are the same fibres in your abs.

Like i said - I'm not guessing here. Use google on muscle fibres and stop reading Muscle & Fitness mag. for all your ab philosophy.

[jaydee]

I am fully aware that sprinters do weight training. I also did weight training the same as anyone else here does it. I just never used weights with my abs. Why is it so hard to beleive that I had really good gains doing things a way that wasnt straight out of a science paper?

Muscle and Fitness Magazine?

There is no need for the cockiness either. No-body likes being patronized for trying to give somone some ideas.

You do whatever works for you and I will do what works for me. How does that sound? Now im going to go and read my Muscle and Fitness Magazine so leave me alone.

[Ubiquitous]

Originally Posted by jaydee

You do whatever works for you and I will do what works for me. How does that sound?

It sounds like what most of us have been saying for a long time.

People that say "you should do it like this, it's the best way period" in regards to ab training (or any other training for that matter) are pompous morons, which are in fact the worst kind of moron..

You do what works for you. Some people have higher concentrations of different types of fibers in specific muscles, and therefore respond to different stimuli. Always try new things.. muscles become complacent like people.

[PumpingIron]

Fast twitch, slow twich...weighted, non-weighted exercises, high frequency, low frequency...

All good things.

[jlowsho]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne45.htm


for sure Pi! Here's a good article with some research to back your incridibly awesome post bro!

[PumpingIron]

Originally Posted by jlowsho

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne45.htm


for sure Pi! Here's a good article with some research to back your incridibly awesome post bro!

For a second I thought I was being mocked...

But Layne writes some good sh*t. He's definitely a smart guy.

[jlowsho]

I'm a huge fan of Layne Norton's. I'm not in an arguing mood today. I was yesterday obviously. I got into it with some other guy on another thread. Some times I argue just to argue and be a jerk..... may be why most people don't like me.... lol

[bodysculpt]

Rectus abdominus (six pack) are predominatly fast twitch mucle fibres so should be trained as such, i.e 8-12 reps momentary muscle failiure within 90 secs with resistance, im guessing they'll need as much rest as other fast twitch muscle fibres.. 48-72 hours... couple of exercises that come to mind are swissball curls with dumbell and cable crunches..

just my 2cents..

currently Im not doing any ab work, slack .. but if i was to magically drop down to 8% BF bet they'd look ok, just not as prominant.

[jlowsho]

this is an amazing post. Thanks bro. This last contest prep I actually did them ONCE a week all the way to the show. I came in leaner than the one previous and they looked a little better actually. Very good insight based on real honest to god facts.

[lazerss9]

so wat is the general consensus as to how the lay person should train their abs? high reps low weight or low reps high weight? also how many exercises, sets, which exercises and how often? i just need a starting point; i dont want to start another argument.

i used to be around 5-6% bf when i ran xcountry and didnt have the six pack abs, only a little bit of abs up top close to my pecs, so bf isnt the issue, i just need more mass. thanks for the advice.