Ab workout is not leaving me sore next day?

andrearotella

Do you need to have the sore feeling in order to build abs and get a flat stomach? I do intense abs, yet no soreness whatsoever.

ninerbuff

You get a flat stomach by reducing the fat on it and ab workouts don't directly do that. You calorie deficit is responsible for that.
When one isn't sore, it's either: the exercise they are doing is not challenging for them or they are fit and accustomed to the current exercise regimen.

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LKArgh

You will not get visible abs and flat stomach by exercising more. You can have awesome abs, under the belly fat. I do not have a 6 pack, I do not recall having one even with a body fat below 20% or so when I was younger, which I think happens for most women. My abs are in awesome shape, it is just that even the last pound of fat on my body goes to my belly. I would have to get to a competitive bodybuilder's body fat percentage for a 6 pack to show. And it would take a ridiculous, and probably pointless, amount of core exercises for me to feel sore there.

seyaedom

Abs will start being visible around a 12% BF, but for women I think it may be a little different, not entirely sure. But yeah, reasons to why they're not sore is because that muscle you've been working on is use to the current exercises you've been performing. But, also if they're not burning/ killing you while you're doing it, then you need to be training harder.

Holly92154

Try doing something different. I never do crunches and prefer dynamic body weight exercises. One of my favorites is core work with a physio ball. Planks (standard and non), push ups and hand stands are also great ab moves that still provide overall benefit.

There is no such thing as targeting. If I want a part of my body to be smaller I've got to drop body fat. There is no (natural) way to work a body part and have it shrink in size without overall fat loss. Something else to consider are your genetic predispositions. Someone who was a pear shape at 200 lbs would still be a pear at 120 lbs. Maybe slightly less distinct but still there.

Hope that helps!

andrearotella

Thank you all! I'm new to this, and I didn't realize there are so many factors to consider. I will try different exercises, and continue to have a healthy diet.