Advice for abs?

jbaker5

I was wondering if it was okay to do abs everyday? I finally have a 4 pack, but am struggling to see definition in my lower abs. Any suggestions would be helpful!

erickirb

As tony Horton says "you don't work other parts of your body everyday, and you shouldn't work your abs everyday, especially ab ripper x". It is best to do it every second day.

OLP76

If you look online - there's Ab exercise for the lower part. Some people say do it every other day - but I guess its really up to you - best wishes xo

floydg68

Your body grows and changes while you REST and your body repairs itself from the "effort" it endured during exercise. You will find that it is equally important as the exercise itself.

jbaker5

OK, thanks for the advice!

myofibril

I was wondering if it was okay to do abs everyday? I finally have a 4 pack, but am struggling to see definition in my lower abs. Any suggestions would be helpful!

The lower abs tend to be the most difficult to reveal as many people store fat around their abdomen. I suspect this is a case of lowering your overall fat % more than anything else which is principally diet as opposed to training related.

As other have said the abs are pretty much like any other muscle and should be trained accordingly. There's no need to do hundreds of crunches, work them everyday or even do any direct ab work whatsoever. To put this into context, look at this photo of Drew Baye:

http://baye.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/drew_baye_95.jpg

Do you know how much direct ab work (crunches, side bends etc) he did in the months leading up to the contest?

None.

His core was engaged and sufficently trained indirectly using other exercises as part of his weight routine. Lower BF is the key to ab definition more than anything else....

jbaker5

So what should my diet consist of to have lower body fat?
I am training for a half marathon right now.

nick1109

Abs are made in the kitchen not the gym

nick1109

I was wondering if it was okay to do abs everyday? I finally have a 4 pack, but am struggling to see definition in my lower abs. Any suggestions would be helpful!

The lower abs tend to be the most difficult to reveal as many people store fat around their abdomen. I suspect this is a case of lowering your overall fat % more than anything else which is principally diet as opposed to training related.

As other have said the abs are pretty much like any other muscle and should be trained accordingly. There's no need to do hundreds of crunches, work them everyday or even do any direct ab work whatsoever. To put this into context, look at this photo of Drew Baye:

http://baye.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/drew_baye_95.jpg

Do you know how much direct ab work (crunches, side bends etc) he did in the months leading up to the contest?

None.

His core was engaged and sufficently trained indirectly using other exercises as part of his weight routine. Lower BF is the key to ab definition more than anything else....

This is spot on. Your abs and core will be indirectly worked through compound movements like deadlifts,squats and presses.

myofibril

So what should my diet consist of to have lower body fat?
I am training for a half marathon right now.

Sorry for not answering this sooner but I had a weights session to get to...and nothing stops me getting to a weights session

I recommend reading this thread:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/113609-relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner

If you look at the first few pages Steve addresses what you need to know. I would also recommend asking his advice as well. Whilst I have lots of experience at getting lean I have never tried to balance this with an essentially competing goal of aerobic conditioning at the same time.

Good luck.

cnjbarry

I read somewhere that as every one else has already said dont "work" your abs every day but keep them ingaged in every thing you do.