Abdominal Question

StephyJarn

To do Crunches everyday or not? I started at 100 crunches and I'm adding 25 everyday! Good or bad idea?

PrincessLou71186

I was wondering the same thing.

ebaymommy

I avoid crunches like the plague. I do other core work though.

Huffdogg

read this:

http://startingstrength.com/articles/abs_rippetoe.pdf

meghan1789

I (in my not a fitness specialist opinion lol) would say that it is definitely good! .... as long as it is part of a complete diet plan. Core strength is really importany, but if crunches are your only form of exercise, then it's not going to be very effective. As long as you are eating right, and burning calories and fat, then building muscle will only help. But if you aren't also burning fat, then crunches may actually make you look bigger.

Cindym82

crunches do not make you have "abs" abs are built in the kitchen and off the floor.

poustotah

I avoid crunches like the plague. I do other core work though.

Amen!!! One of the worst exercises you can do IMO.

mrsladybrewer

From what I have heard, every other day. They are just like any other muscle and need to have rest days. Otherwise, the muscle will be fatigued and not respond.

dmpizza

If you can add 25 a day that's amazing.
I have read that abdominal muscles can be exercised everyday unlike legs or arms.

WickedGarden

I'm currently doing P90x, Tony says that abs shouldn't be worked every day...hence Ab Ripper X is only done 3x a week.

JNick77

Everyday, no. Do a variety of ab exercises. Different crunches, side bends, iso-metric holds (planks, palloff press) are all good exercises.

You're going to find plenty of articles that support or go against spinal flexion for ab work, so you have to incorporate what feels right for you. But variety is good and Ab's everyday is unnecessary. Tons of ab work won't give you a 6-pack if your BF% isn't low anyway.

Many non-ab exercises will strengthen your core too. Deadlifts, Squats, lunges, Bent over rows, Barbell Bench Press, Standing Overhead Press, just to name a few.

Axels91

proper form while running is enough. there is also a machine that you hold onto and lift your knees to your chest.

StephyJarn

Thank you everyone!!!!

tigersword

Crunches are TERRIBLE for your spine. You couldn't pay me to do them.

tgh1914

read this:

http://startingstrength.com/articles/abs_rippetoe.pdf

Yes ^^^, then read this:
http://www.burnthefat.com/get_six_pack_abs_that_POP.html

carajo

crunches built muslce UNDER the fat layer...i say lean out and your abs will show...i never do crunches, I do standing as well as lying core work.

JNick77

proper form while running is enough.

Not quite.

It looks like there's arguments on here from people not to do them. Here's a really good article that discusses ab work and flexion in-general; it's more informative on the situation than "no, you'll destroy your back" or "yeah they're fine". A must read,

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/to_crunch_or_not_to_crunch

I hurt my back doing something unrelated and am anti-flexion (for the most part, I do some weighted crunches occasionally) and I follow a lot of the exercises from this,

(Different author from the link above)
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/iron_core_how_to_build_a_punchproof_body

JennieAL

Crunches are an isolation exercise and not the best way to do it. Do bigger movements that incorporate more muscles... deadlifts and squats with a barbell, for example. Those are all you'll ever need to do.

DFWTT

I'm currently doing P90x, Tony says that abs shouldn't be worked every day...hence Ab Ripper X is only done 3x a week.

I do this and a little weighted stuff one day, so 4x a week

judybrim

I know some people don't like to hear what "Jillian" has to say, but I believe her comment: You can't crunch your way to great abs". Like the replies above both calories and workout variety are important! Love the suggestions above. Great job with all your hard work...hope some variety brings you to your goals!

JNick77

Crunches are an isolation exercise and not the best way to do it. Do bigger movements that incorporate more muscles... deadlifts and squats with a barbell, for example. Those are all you'll ever need to do.

That's not entirely true. Many trainers thought that at one time but found that they actually improve their overall core and their performance in the lifts you mentioned by training ab's. Surprisingly enough, powerlifters that train with Louis Simmons supposedly do ab work every workout.

Edit: Love your Jim Wendler quote! Jim actually talks about ab work in his 5/3/1 Manual

Nerdy_Rose

I hang upside down for my ab work.

True Story.

JennieAL

Crunches are an isolation exercise and not the best way to do it. Do bigger movements that incorporate more muscles... deadlifts and squats with a barbell, for example. Those are all you'll ever need to do.

That's not entirely true. Many trainers thought that at one time but found that they actually improve their overall core and their performance in the lifts you mentioned by training ab's. Surprisingly enough, powerlifters that train with Louis Simmons supposedly do ab work every workout.

Edit: Love your Jim Wendler quote! Jim actually talks about ab work in his 5/3/1 Manual

Ok, I'll look more into this. I've always had killer ab strength, not sure why... but I have a feeling I moved up quickly in deadlifts because of it. But, I'll definitely look more into this because I'm thinking of doing 5/3/1 in the near future.

JNick77

Crunches are an isolation exercise and not the best way to do it. Do bigger movements that incorporate more muscles... deadlifts and squats with a barbell, for example. Those are all you'll ever need to do.

That's not entirely true. Many trainers thought that at one time but found that they actually improve their overall core and their performance in the lifts you mentioned by training ab's. Surprisingly enough, powerlifters that train with Louis Simmons supposedly do ab work every workout.

Edit: Love your Jim Wendler quote! Jim actually talks about ab work in his 5/3/1 Manual

Ok, I'll look more into this. I've always had killer ab strength, not sure why... but I have a feeling I moved up quickly in deadlifts because of it. But, I'll definitely look more into this because I'm thinking of doing 5/3/1 in the near future.

You do get nice core strength from deadlifting for sure. One week I completely overtrained myself and did more direct ab-work than I should've that I had a bad abdominal strain afterwards. That was really painful. There's a definite balance between lifting and ab work that should be made.

Edit: Make sure you get the 2nd Edition, it has a better accessory lifting plan.

JennieAL

You do get nice core strength from deadlifting for sure. One week I completely overtrained myself and did more direct ab-work than I should've that I had a bad abdominal strain afterwards. That was really painful. There's a definite balance between lifting and ab work that should be made.

Edit: Make sure you get the 2nd Edition, it has a better accessory lifting plan.

I do planks & burpees lately. About to get a pullup bar installed in the garage soon as well. Do you think doing those, along with the exercise where you lift your legs our straight, bending at the waist, while holding onto the bar (not sure what it's called, forgot) would be enough? I can't imagine doing much more than that, combined with the compound moves.

JNick77

You do get nice core strength from deadlifting for sure. One week I completely overtrained myself and did more direct ab-work than I should've that I had a bad abdominal strain afterwards. That was really painful. There's a definite balance between lifting and ab work that should be made.

Edit: Make sure you get the 2nd Edition, it has a better accessory lifting plan.

I do planks & burpees lately. About to get a pullup bar installed in the garage soon as well. Do you think doing those, along with the exercise where you lift your legs our straight, bending at the waist, while holding onto the bar (not sure what it's called, forgot) would be enough? I can't imagine doing much more than that, combined with the compound moves.

Yeah, I think hanging leg raises are an excellent exercise. Because I limit my spinal flexion most of my direct ab work revolves around Palloff Press, Hanging Leg Raises, and Dumbell Side Raises. If I could get a hold of a wheel I would probably do ab wheel work.

Another trainer I follow, Christian Thibideau, says he does a total ab blast like every two weeks. He picks 4 exercises and it goes something like this,

A1. Swiss Ball Ab Crunch 8 sets of 8 reps, 15-sec rest in-between each set
B1. Weighted Cable Crunch 8 sets of 8 reps 15-sec rest in-between each set..
C1. Leg Lifts: as above
D1. Seated leg pull-in's as above

8 sets of 8 may not sound like a lot but it's actually pretty killer. Think about it, 64 reps per exercise x 4 exercises = 256 total reps.

doubglass

vary your ab exercises. You really don't get much benefit from doing more than 100 crunches. Trade off with other routines, Leg lifts, knee lifts, captain's chair if you belong to a gym, scissors, side bends.etc.

clements1972

I have fat in stomach area and see not only a personal trainer, but a dietician as well. Stomach crunches alone will not give you the results you want. A combination of eating the right, cardio and doing core exercises such as pilates, dead lifts and squats will.

silkandsugar

I have gotten a flat tummy from just eating clean and doing ab workouts maybe once or twice a week for only 20 minutes if that. Abs are made in the kitchen yall!