Benefits of ab exercises??

Terpnista84

Since i cannot spot reduce and I need to get my body fat down to see ab muscles, what exactly is the benefit in training my abs?

I typically dedicate some time a few times per week to my Abs and I already have considerable definition from losing so much weight. Is cardio the key or do I need to do both. My main concern is the fat underneath my navel and since I can recall having it all the way back to my youth I'm sure that will be last to go.

Cherimoose

Is cardio the key or do I need to do both.

Neither, a calorie deficit is the key. It's best to include full-body strength training, to minimize the loss of muscle that accompanies weight loss. Working just abs doesn't do much, except maybe for tightening stretched abdominal muscles, like from pregnancy.

carrieous

having strong abs will protect your back. Muscles in general protect our bones. If you want to have a strong back and not have "back problems", you will develop your abs- and strengthen you core.

Wetterdew

-Ab exercises will strengthen your core and indirectly boost other lifts where your abs may be limiting you. Abs are very important muscles.

-Ab exercises grow your abdominals so that once you cut down your body fat they will show. There's a difference between this guy's puny unimpressive abs (sorry):
http://www.martindelacroix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/abs.jpg

and this guy's abs:
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/105637/105637,1329151221,9/stock-photo-muscled-male-torso-with-strong-abs-95061412.jpg

Chieflrg

I personally think most abs exercises are a waste of time at least from my current routine which is during a cut. I do enough compound exercises to strengthen my abs without having to do isolation ones. Hanging leg raises are usually the only one I use to build strength from an iso exercise.

Although when I do my next bulk I do plan to build muscle in the area to help balance my muscle growth.

It really depends on your goals.

Unknown

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abadvat

-Ab exercises will strengthen your core and indirectly boost other lifts where your abs may be limiting you. Abs are very important muscles.

-Ab exercises grow your abdominals so that once you cut down your body fat they will show. There's a difference between this guy's puny unimpressive abs (sorry):
http://www.martindelacroix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/abs.jpg

and this guy's abs:
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/105637/105637,1329151221,9/stock-photo-muscled-male-torso-with-strong-abs-95061412.jpg

+1

Agreed!

bv109

-Ab exercises will strengthen your core and indirectly boost other lifts where your abs may be limiting you. Abs are very important muscles.

-Ab exercises grow your abdominals so that once you cut down your body fat they will show. There's a difference between this guy's puny unimpressive abs (sorry):
http://www.martindelacroix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/abs.jpg

and this guy's abs:
http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/105637/105637,1329151221,9/stock-photo-muscled-male-torso-with-strong-abs-95061412.jpg

LOL STRONG EVERYTHING

good try comparing airbrushed guy with perfect lighting vs a dyel guy with apt