AB routine??

dawnemjh

What type, how often, how much ab work is everyone doing with this program???

Thanks!

valerieschram

I don't do any. These lifts already work your core. I also have separated ab muscles and a belly button hernia and a generally messed up ab area from having twins and two additional kids w/in 5 years (all by c-sections)! I can't really do crunches and stuff like that because it makes the ab separation worse. Hopefully, lifting does not. I think my ab area is starting to look better and feel tighter--well except for that stupid flap of skin above my c-section scar.

nz_deevaa

I do planks and hip raisers, but I've already found that they are much easier now that I'm doing 5 x 5.

I've read that doing compound lifts work your core and make additional 'traditional' ab work redundant.

Rae6503

I also don't do any.

gemiwing

None here, either. I do 5x5 and one day of fun kettlebell moves, that's it.

dawnemjh

Thanks ladies!!! it just feels like I should be working out more I guess!!!

Rae6503

Thanks ladies!!! it just feels like I should be working out more I guess!!!

It won't once it gets harder. I'm planning on taking a week off.

XFitMojoMom

I do Abs - between my sets with a 10 pound plate.
or the "tummy tuck" routine - series of different plank movements held for 45-60 seconds & 3 different stations. Super killer.

_HeathBar_

I hate ab workouts. The good thing about compound lifts is you don't have to do horrible crunches and sit-ups to work your abs.

stormieweather

I do an ab workout after each 5x5 workout. Depending on where I'm working out (home or gym), it's either hanging leg raises, slant board crunches or planks. Only takes about 10-15 minutes extra.

irridia

I do them specifically as accessory workouts. That is to say to strengthen weak points that are hurting form during my lifts and I do them after my lifts.

I only do 2, both work maybe the psoas, definately the transverse and at least a little bit of the obliques, I will probably add a little seperate oblique work once my main ab exercise is easier.

I lay on the bench with my toes touching the floor, reach over my head and hold onto the bench. This is critical to ensure engagement of the transverse: I take a deep breath and then lift my legs keeping them bent the whole time (straight is harder), to the point of rasing most of my lumbar spine off the bench. currently doing 3 sets of 10.

Then I move to the floor and add upright crunches. Put an elastic band over the top of the bar hold the handle over my head, sitting in V position and again inhale and try to touch the floor with my chest on the exhale 3 sets of 10 with the medium band.

The point in doing these for me is multi fold. I have duck butt. I have to make a concious desision through out the day to tuck my pelvis under or I end up with lumbar pain and it exascerbates my piriformitis and I can feel my hip flexors cramping along with severe buttock pain if I don't. To the point of almost not being able to walk. This in addition to hip opener exercises seems to be helping. I'm finding relief and the pevic tucking during the day feels less forced and I feel less pull on my hips now than before I added these.

That being said, unless you have issues that require it, you prolly don't need ab work.

OH! and more importantly, my bellydance move of doing umi (oomi) is getting easier and feeling less restricted. If you want to know what that move is, do a youtube search. :happy: