Are you doing direct abs work?

maruby95

Last year I did a bunch of direct abs work (planks, sit ups, weighted side pulls etc) but I felt like my mid-section got thicker from them. Actually, it did by measurement. I added about 1-2 inches to my waist, which as a 'banana' does me no favors :0. I'm always fighting the "no waist" problem. But I'd love to have stronger/ more defined abs at the end of this bulk.

I know all the compound lifts work the core, and I've been counting on that to be enough. Am I kidding myself? What are you guys doing? And if you are doing direct work, what exercises are you doing and do you find that they increase or decrease your waist measurement?

HMVOL7409

Well if you're bulking your measurements shouldn't be going down, period. You can't have more defined abs at the end of a bulk; that statement is pretty confusing. I do abs maybe once every few weeks and it's weighted stuff like side bends, hanging leg raises and plate crunches; that's it. IMO It doesn't need to be done as much as people do it honestly.

Barbellgirl

I have the same issue. I hate that I look worse when I do direct ab work. Unfortunately, I think I'll have to get to an unhealthy low bodyfat to ever really see my abs.

maruby95

Sorry- to clarify- I don't mean that I would have defined abs or a small waist at the end of a bulk, but rather at the end of the cut that will follow. Even at 16% BF I couldn't see much definition...that's what I'm addressing here.

And Holly, that's pretty much what I'm doing now: hanging leg raises once a week and counting on primary lifts for the rest :0. Just wondering if I should use this bulk to do something different to have a different result when I lean back out.

pandorakick

I'm not doing any direct ab work, but that's mostly because I just don't like doing it. Also, I don't expect visible abs to pop up anymore and don't want the little waist definition I have left to disappear. So I just trust the compound work to address the abs...

TriLifter

I do a couple of an things on leg day, but not a whole lot.

sarahstrezo

I do pretty much no direct ab work….because I just don't like it. At all. Never have.
My core is strong and it's just from the compound movements I've been doing. I will do hanging leg raises once every few weeks, but they are built into my program on back day….and at the end of back day, my grip is ****….so I usually skip them

I actually doubt I'll cut to a point to have a very cut 6 pack. One…because I don't want to have to cut that long/hard (it's just not worth it to me). Two….chances are at a low enough of a BF% as I'd require to get a super cut 6 pack, I have a feeling that I wouldn't be happy with the looks of my butt (I like big butts and I cannot lie). Three…..a super cut 6 pack is not an aesthetic I prefer on myself. I'm hoping to keep my oblique definition and maybe a tad more.

SonyaCele

I've been doing a half hour of core burnouts every Wednesday for about six months. it might be overkill I dunno I just do it. 150 hanging knee raises, and a bunch of others stuff thrown in for the half hour.

ssaraj43

The past three months every couple of weeks I would do some hanging leg raises.
When I started concentrating on losing weight back in May I was doing videos. The Firm moved on to Jillian and then a round of p90x. My core definitely got stronger but I was in a deficit and not doing weighted work so no "gains".
I had cut more than I had planned and lost more while reversing my calories. That's why I have a turtle shell in some of my pics,low body fat.
Most of all though I believe it's genetics. I didn't get long legs and a rocking *kitten*,I got abs.

JoRocka

I add in hanging leg raises- more compound so arms/back get in on the action.

I do abs maybe once a week? every two weeks?

I get a fair bit of articulation in from dancing- but every now and then for variety I like doing weighted ab work to change it up.

MUST- no not really

but doing direct ab work once a week or so is fine.
Even ab work every day- or ever other day is fine- it's more of what works for you- I find ab work every day boring- and I don't like doing the same muscles ALL the time- but some people swear by it (by some people I mean some people with SUPER amazing abs).

It seems to be more of one of those things that is along the lines of "do what you like and what works for you" diet will do most of the work- but doing the work to help build them isn't going to hurt.