How often can one work the core and abs?

cardigirl

My trainer has been giving me reps to do on the captain's chair. I do these twice a week, when I work out with him, but I've read that you can and should work the ab muscles everyday. So, should I try to do the captain's chair on my own when I do my cardio workouts?

Basically, was just wondering if the abs need to rest between days of exercise.

Zara11

Er... the trainer i ask at the gym recommend a day of rest in between, but I would say a moderated/short version with breaks when you feel you need to should be fine. i'm no expert, though...

cardigirl

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm going to check with my trainer too. But I thought that abs exercises (crunches, bicycles, sit ups, etc) could be done on a daily basis. Guess I need to do a bit more reading.

cardigirl

Well, talked with the trainer today, who recommended that I do the captain's chair exercises only twice a week, when we have our sessions, and do my floor abs exercises when I workout on my own the rest of the time.

In reading online (yeah I know) it seems that a day of rest is recommended even for abs so...hard to get 6 days in per week, when you're supposed to rest every other day. :laugh: