Should I work my obliques?

chocolatemint12
chocolatemint12 Posts: 5 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All,

I was searching for exercises to work my abs. One trainer said it doesn't make since for overweight people or people without low body fat to work their obliques. His argument was that since there is a layer of fat when the obliques are worked then that muscle will push out the fat more. He said that that fat is hard to get rid of so it is building muscle under the fat. He said it is best to not work the obliques unless you are "cutting" and have really low body fat (maybe 10%?) Any thoughts on that? Any truth to that?

Replies

  • Merci444
    Merci444 Posts: 222 Member
    I think that is bad advice! It is ok to work all of your muscles. Yes, it's true that a layer of fat might make the changes not visible, but that is no reason not to build your muscle. Muscle burns fat, and the more you strengthen and build your muscle, the better. As you lose fat it will all be worth it!!
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    Yeah, he's in idiot.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Hi All,

    I was searching for exercises to work my abs. One trainer said it doesn't make since for overweight people or people without low body fat to work their obliques. His argument was that since there is a layer of fat when the obliques are worked then that muscle will push out the fat more. He said that that fat is hard to get rid of so it is building muscle under the fat. He said it is best to not work the obliques unless you are "cutting" and have really low body fat (maybe 10%?) Any thoughts on that? Any truth to that?


    I have mixed opinions on that.

    I think that if you're spending a substantial portion of your gym time working on direct ab training you are not efficiently using your time.

    I think that reducing bodyfat will be the primary method for getting your abs to show.

    However, I do think there can be merit to ab training from a functional/strength application.

    As far as the "building muscle under the fat" argument though, I don't buy it as a reason to not train something. Would he also tell you not to train the rest of your muscles because you'll just build muscle under the fat and make them look fatter? Probably not.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    your trainer is right (and wrong) for many reasons.

    an over weight person should concentrate their energies on other exercises, because your core is being used in many of them, such as running and strength training.

    if i were you, i would concentrate on dropping weight by keeping a calorie deficit diet, while doing a few days of cardio a week, while also doing strength training.
  • LupaNera
    LupaNera Posts: 170
    My trainer told me that besides getting rid of the fat (this is the primary objective), I should work all muscles and the obliques are important to achieve the waistline. There are several exercises to be included in abs workout.
    For me also all core muscles are important because they develop a good part of the force when punching or kicking or for ground work.
    Anyway I believe that all muscles should be workout evenly for good posture and general fitness.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Any trainer that talks about not doing a muscle strengthening routine because it'll "push the fat further out" should be fired. End of story.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Any trainer that talks about not doing a muscle strengthening routine because it'll "push the fat further out" should be fired. End of story.

    ^ That's actually a good point. If someone says something this idiotic it should really make you question the validity of the rest of the stuff he could be telling you.
  • xMillyLouisex
    xMillyLouisex Posts: 171 Member
    Any trainer that talks about not doing a muscle strengthening routine because it'll "push the fat further out" should be fired. End of story.

    definately agree on this one that is ridiculous advice, mix in cardio and strength training.. even things like boxing or vigorous punching will work the obliques done in the right way.. just make sure as ur doing ur cardio you keep ur belly button drawn in, abs tensed, chest up shoulders back ul get a lovely waist line, that trainers an idiot
  • vanillarama
    vanillarama Posts: 101 Member
    I laughed when I saw the "push the fat further out" thing, then I became concerned. No. Bad. No wheatgrass shots for you, naughty trainer.
  • KS_4691
    KS_4691 Posts: 228 Member
    yes
  • KS_4691
    KS_4691 Posts: 228 Member
    yes

    I actually only just read the subject line, but now that I went back and read the full post:

    Yes.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.
  • riftkind
    riftkind Posts: 7
    I agree with the other reviews here the trainer is wrong. You must work the core muscles, as these will facilitate good posture and consequently the other targeted exercises for weight loss will be done in a more proper way. Workout your obliques!
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    I would say that it's a good idea for "most" programs/people but I wouldn't say that core training is mandatory regardless of goals. If you simply want to look lean you can do so without any direct ab training. I'd rather spend my time on other things.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    Maybe you don't need to spend a lot of time doing ab exercises just for your obliques, but certainly you want to do exercises that work them so when the fat melts away they look good. And I assume the 10% comment was for men only? I have 20% (47 yr old female) and mine show--not a bit of fat covering them--so it's a good thing I work mine.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    but for the newbie, specifically targeting one particular muscle group is wasted energy.


    things like body weight squats, lunges, push ups, dips, pull ups, etc can work out your abs simply if you keep them tight while doing the aforementioned exercises.
  • Crayvn
    Crayvn Posts: 390 Member
    I have mixed opinions on that.

    I think that if you're spending a substantial portion of your gym time working on direct ab training you are not efficiently using your time.

    I think that reducing bodyfat will be the primary method for getting your abs to show.

    However, I do think there can be merit to ab training from a functional/strength application.

    As far as the "building muscle under the fat" argument though, I don't buy it as a reason to not train something. Would he also tell you not to train the rest of your muscles because you'll just build muscle under the fat and make them look fatter? Probably not.

    totally agree :)
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    but for the newbie, specifically targeting one particular muscle group is wasted energy.


    things like body weight squats, lunges, push ups, dips, pull ups, etc can work out your abs simply if you keep them tight while doing the aforementioned exercises.

    This is sort of what I was getting at with my previous post. Strictly from an aesthetics standpoint, plenty of people can get a good looking set of abs just through compound lifts.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Any trainer that talks about not doing a muscle strengthening routine because it'll "push the fat further out" should be fired. End of story.

    Besides the fact that obliques are a stabilizer muscle. As a flat muscle, it's not going to "grow" and push anything out. Generally the obliques become stronger in their density, and fiber bundle activation percentage (I.E. muscle memory), not in volume. Maybe a little if your obliques are really underdeveloped or you are some kind of genetic freak.

    You know what makes the mid-section look better? Losing fat (quel surprise!) around the mid-section. You should let this guy know the big secret, obviously he/she has never had a single course in basic kinesiology (if you're a personal trainer and you haven't, shame on you!).
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    I would say that it's a good idea for "most" programs/people but I wouldn't say that core training is mandatory regardless of goals. If you simply want to look lean you can do so without any direct ab training. I'd rather spend my time on other things.

    I guess it depends on how far you take this. Yes, you can improve your core without directly working the core, so no need to focus on it if you're doing any kind of routine that requires sustained balance or stabilizing (like lunges or squats for example). But to ignore the core by only working peripheral muscle groups or cardio is bad news long term IMHO. That's my biggest problem with machines that isolate, for the experienced person, who knows that they need muscle cooperation, these machines are fine for a single routine designed to enhance one lacking aspect, but for the newbies (who see this as a shortcut to good form), these types of isolation machines can be a big problem, allowing to overdevelop specific muscles without developing the supportive muscle groups necessary for real strength. This leads to a lot of injury.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    I would say that it's a good idea for "most" programs/people but I wouldn't say that core training is mandatory regardless of goals. If you simply want to look lean you can do so without any direct ab training. I'd rather spend my time on other things.

    I guess it depends on how far you take this. Yes, you can improve your core without directly working the core, so no need to focus on it if you're doing any kind of routine that requires sustained balance or stabilizing (like lunges or squats for example). But to ignore the core by only working peripheral muscle groups or cardio is bad news long term IMHO. That's my biggest problem with machines that isolate, for the experienced person, who knows that they need muscle cooperation, these machines are fine for a single routine designed to enhance one lacking aspect, but for the newbies (who see this as a shortcut to good form), these types of isolation machines can be a big problem, allowing to overdevelop specific muscles without developing the supportive muscle groups necessary for real strength. This leads to a lot of injury.

    Good post.
  • vanillarama
    vanillarama Posts: 101 Member
    That's ridiculous. No fat is going to be "pushed out further" and your core is extemely important to work. It should be included in ANY strength training program no matter what your goals are.

    I would say that it's a good idea for "most" programs/people but I wouldn't say that core training is mandatory regardless of goals. If you simply want to look lean you can do so without any direct ab training. I'd rather spend my time on other things.

    I guess it depends on how far you take this. Yes, you can improve your core without directly working the core, so no need to focus on it if you're doing any kind of routine that requires sustained balance or stabilizing (like lunges or squats for example). But to ignore the core by only working peripheral muscle groups or cardio is bad news long term IMHO. That's my biggest problem with machines that isolate, for the experienced person, who knows that they need muscle cooperation, these machines are fine for a single routine designed to enhance one lacking aspect, but for the newbies (who see this as a shortcut to good form), these types of isolation machines can be a big problem, allowing to overdevelop specific muscles without developing the supportive muscle groups necessary for real strength. This leads to a lot of injury.

    Good post.

    Totally. This is why after years of abusing myself on fixed path machines, I have to correct so many muscle imbalances and focus on that before I can hit my strength training in the manner I would like to :/
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    your trainer is right (and wrong) for many reasons.

    an over weight person should concentrate their energies on other exercises, because your core is being used in many of them, such as running and strength training.

    if i were you, i would concentrate on dropping weight by keeping a calorie deficit diet, while doing a few days of cardio a week, while also doing strength training.

    I agree. The trainer thinks the OP will get more benefit from bread-and-butter exercises at this time. I would also try to lose weight through diet, do cardio, and basic strength training exercises.
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    Two reasons to work obliques directly

    1. You need them stronger to acrually do something that you can't do with weaker obliques

    2. You want your obliques to be visually larger

    Are either of these requirements for you?

Categories