Do I need to do ab work if I do squats and deadlifts?

hesn92

Is doing squats and deadlifts enough to work my abs? Should I do some other type of ab workout on other days?

jaysonhijinx

If you're doing deadlifts and squats on a fairly regular basis that should be plenty. I also do overhead presses which gives the core another bit of a workout too xD

Personally I tend to do ab exercises when I've a few minutes left at the end of a session and don't want to get setup on a machine or grab some free weights

eso2012

Yes. Abs are more supporting muscles (albeit very important) for squats and deadlifts. If you want to see more definition, definitely should work on various ab muscles separately.

FlyeredUp

Yes you should and I do.

Jersey_Devil

i still do ab exercises but not as much as i used to before i did deadliest, squats, etc...

Sidesteal

I think it depends.

I wouldn't say that under all circumstances deadlifts and squats are all anyone needs for core training.

But I also wouldn't say that ab training is necessary in order to have nice abs.


As a very general statement, I think that ab work is over-rated and people tend to waste far too much time on it.
For anecdote, I do zero ab work and when I get lean enough, my abs show (see pics for reference -- not that I'm ultra-lean but in some pics I'm "lean enough").

Rae6503

I don't do ab work, just StrongLifts 5x5 (squats, deads, overhead press, etc).

ericgAU

Every good lifting program will incorporate a small amount of ab work in addition to those lifts. I treat abs like any other muscle group. I work them once a week knowing that when I do compound lifts like squats, dead lifts etc the abs are being worked too anyway.

TheDoctor90

I think it depends.

I wouldn't say that under all circumstances deadlifts and squats are all anyone needs for core training.

But I also wouldn't say that ab training is necessary in order to have nice abs.


As a very general statement, I think that ab work is over-rated and people tend to waste far too much time on it.
For anecdote, I do zero ab work and when I get lean enough, my abs show (see pics for reference -- not that I'm ultra-lean but in some pics I'm "lean enough").

Same. I don't do any isolated ab work and mine seem to be OK.

VMarkV

Need, no
If you want leaner/runner's look abs, don't do much direct ab exercises (stomach vacuums are good though - they work the same part of the abdominals that are engaged in heavy lifting movements)

If you want bulky-bodybuilder abs, then do direct weighted ab exercises
It's all up to how you want them to look, a prolonged calorie deficit and low BF% will help in both cases

limbopanto

I don't think so. The only ab work I do are planks occasionally and mine are pretty defined.

dad106

I don't unless my trainer makes me and I do fine.

PinkAndSparkle

From what I've heard from all the trainers I've worked with (that's 4), as long as you are holding in your abs during other exercises, you will increase strength in your core. I did a big kettlebell workout the other day, lots of swings, squats, lunges, deadlifts and pushups and my abs were killing me the next day (in a good way!)

wellbert

Eh... yes and no. If you are properly bracing with abs - not so much. If you feel your core crumble during squats and deads-- maybe?

Try using an ab roller.