How to get better abs?

meeper123

I focus a lot on getting my legs fit and my upper body in shape, but besides a few crunches and planks I do not know really how to strengthen my abs. I dont want to be just leaner I want to be stronger as well! Any ideas?

mkcmurphy

Bump - looking for suggestions, too! Thanks!

usmcmp

<--- Zero crunches. Heavy squats, heavy deadlifts, pull ups, dips, bench press and front squats. One day a week I do hanging leg raises (3 sets of 10).

kjm3579

New Rules of Lifting for Abs -- remember, squats and bacon are good for everything!!!!

MinimalistShoeAddict

<--- Zero crunches. Heavy squats, heavy deadlifts, pull ups, dips, bench press and front squats. One day a week I do hanging leg raises (3 sets of 10).

Honestly this looks like the perfect answer to me. Hanging leg raises are all I do regularly for ab isolation. All of the other compound exercises mentioned will do wonders for your abs.

meeper123

New Rules of Lifting for Abs -- remember, squats and bacon are good for everything!!!!

Didnt know there was one for abs ty

meeper123

<--- Zero crunches. Heavy squats, heavy deadlifts, pull ups, dips, bench press and front squats. One day a week I do hanging leg raises (3 sets of 10).

Thats heartening

ncthomas09

I honestly just got on youtube and searched for ab exercises (also added with no equipment since I dont have any). But even if you have a stabily ball or something like that I see a ton of ab workouts on there that aren't crunches. Which for me is great since I'm too poor for a gym membership.

alisonjayne1989

Ever heard of P90X? Try the Ab ripper exercise from the program. Here is an example on you tube. Try and do it every 2nd day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYAaJwHaMYA

auteurfille22

This is supposed to be really good:
http://kayciesantics.blogspot.com/2012/03/300-ultimate-ab-and-core-challenge_22.html

a2o3

I have ab routines that I use for boxing. PM me if you're interested But the guys on here are right, Squats and Deadlifts work great.

meeper123

Thanks everyone

kdiamond

I do very few crunches, like maybe 30 a week thrown in. I focus more on compound exercises, you wouldn't believe how much walking lunges work your core!! As for traditional ab exercises, I do like to incorporate planks but usually I'll do something else at the same time, for example, pushup planks, or planks with a glute kickback, etc..

DIET IS KEY to a six pack or even just a defined stomach.

julialdr

I love reverse crunches on a bench, they really work your lower abs.

bviv89

Sprints have helped my lower abdomen a lot, too.


And lots of spinach and chicken.

BluePHX

Squats!! And if you're trying to get em to show under the "film of fat" you gotta eat clean and do cardio. No diet, no abs! (Not sure if this is a prob for you so it's not directed at ya. Just sayin'. )

1ConcreteGirl

lose body fat and deadlift.

Warchortle

Most people have abs they just need to reach a low body fat to get them. The core is involved in a lot of things we do already.

Fozzi43

lose body fat and deadlift.

This..all day long. It's what I started doing and I've gotten better results doing this than crunches etc.

1ConcreteGirl

Most people have abs they just need to reach a low body fat to get them. The core is involved in a lot of things we do already.

Tell me more about the ones who are missing abs.

Warchortle

Any compound movement involves core regardless of direct core training.. you could even just stabilize your core throughout the day and with breath training make ab gaaainz.

BonaFideUK

Most people have abs they just need to reach a low body fat to get them. The core is involved in a lot of things we do already.

Tell me more about the ones who are missing abs.

If someone doesnt have visible abs its because they have too much bodyfat.

SenseiCole

I use this

http://printableworkouts.com/

has every muscle group

LittleDoodlePoodle

I need to come back and do these!

tigersword

<--- Zero crunches. Heavy squats, heavy deadlifts, pull ups, dips, bench press and front squats. One day a week I do hanging leg raises (3 sets of 10).

This. There's really no need to do ab isolation exercises, as your abs are a vital component of every exercise you can ever do.

tigersword

Squats!! And if you're trying to get em to show under the "film of fat" you gotta eat clean and do cardio. No diet, no abs! (Not sure if this is a prob for you so it's not directed at ya. Just sayin'. )

Eating "clean," besides being a meaningless term, has nothing to do with it. Calorie deficit is what's needed.

BluePHX

Squats!! And if you're trying to get em to show under the "film of fat" you gotta eat clean and do cardio. No diet, no abs! (Not sure if this is a prob for you so it's not directed at ya. Just sayin'. )

Eating "clean," besides being a meaningless term, has nothing to do with it. Calorie deficit is what's needed.

Yeah, and a diet high in bad fats, empty carbs, and preservatives that cause water retention and cellulite development aren't exactly privy to the look you're going for if you're trying to have visible abs. Hence, clean EATING. I'm done arguing with people over this crap. You eat crap food, you get crap results. PERIOD. Unless you already have a fast metabolism which the average Joe's of the world do NOT.

tigersword

You miss the point. There is no such thing as "clean eating." It's a marketing term invented to sell books and magazines.

http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/