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Benefits of ab exercises??

Terpnista84
Posts: 517 Member
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.
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.
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Replies
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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.0 -
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.0
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-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.jpg0 -
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.0 -
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-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!0 -
-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 apt0
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