Contracting Abs In Daily Activities

[AnthonyIOSOS]

Are there any benefits of contracting or flexing your abs while performing daily activities. Such as walking at work, mowing the lawn, or just whenever you feel like it. Can this improve ab strength or definition?

 

[MidwestBeast]

It improves posture, so that's helpful. I personally don't think you're going to see any changes out of it.

 

[ZiR RED]

I'm not sure how it improves posture; it certainly restricts breathing mechanics.

If you want stronger abs, stretch your hips flexors.

Br

 

[kingk0ng]

I'm not sure how it improves posture; it certainly restricts breathing mechanics.

If you want stronger abs, stretch your hips flexors.

Br

Agreed. Lordosis is a bad thing.

Another thing you can do, when you perform abdominal exercises that involve the hip flexor, which is any ab exercise that involves concentric movement really. Try squeezing your glutes at the bottom of the eccentric phase (in the case of when you're on the ground during a sit up, when your standing straight during a hanging leg raise, etc.) it will limit hip flexor involvement by activating antagonists at the bottom. You should feel a better contraction with your abs.

I always tell my clients to train their abs with isometric work - since when your abs contract during compound exercises it is usually isometrically. Plus it takes out the hip flexor involvement.

 

[AnthonyIOSOS]

Good information.

 

[Pleonastic]

I think it is good to flex em if you will throughout the day... You dont have to do it everyday. But hardening em and doing stomach vacuums is good in my opinion.

My abs are not the best, and I am someone who thinks flexing is actually a part of my workouts, so yea maybe im just weird.