Resting Between Ab Workouts

i think you may be okay to work your abs every day. i read anywhere around 10 - 15 minutes of a workout is enough. mine were sore with some back to back workouts, but it made my core feel really strong so i didn't mind it.

NO! Ab work is RESISTANCE training, and works exactly the same as all other resistance training, breaking down the muscle, which then repairs itself to adapt and prepare to handle that stress again. Resistance simply gives the muscle a REASON to grow. If you don't give it time and nutrition to repair itself, you won't build muscle or get stronger.

Most people feel like they can train abs everyday because they usually don't feel as sore as other muscles. There are two reasons for this. One is that we use our abs every day. It's the same deal with our calves, which is why its so hard to train calves for growth/strength. When you use a muscle group every day, it takes more stimulation to make the muscle grow.

BTW, you may not think so, but you DO want your muscles to grow. When muscles grow they fill out saggy skin left by fat and create the tight, tone look most women want.

The second reason people don't get sore when they work their abs is they don't work them anough in a given session. Your abs are tough, and are also mostly made up of fast-twitch fibers, which means they need lower reps and resistance to grow, not a million bodyweight crunches.

In my opinion, there are only 2 ab exercises you need to do; weighted crunches and leg/butt lifts. Grab a weight, 5 lbs at LEAST, and probably at least 10 lbs, lay on your back, extend your arms holding the weight above your head with both hands and try to touch the weight to the ceiling by squeezing your abs. Your only going to move A FEW INCHES, and barely lift your upper back off the ground. Once your abs are sueezed, you've done an entire rep. If you can do more then 15 with ease, then you don't have enough weight.

leg/butt lifts are the other ab exercise I like. I don't call them leg lifts, because lifting your legs DOESN'T WORK YOUR ABS. You abs are only engaged when you also lift your butt off the ground. Give it a try. You'll lift your legs 'til the cows come home, but once you start also lifting your butt at the top of the movement, you'll probably have trouble doing more then ten the first time.

Do a set of weighted crunches, then imediately do a set of leg/butt lifts, then rest AT LEAST 1 MINUTE before repeating. Do that 4 times and see if you don't have trouble getting out of bed the next day. Trust me, you'll wait at least 1 day before doing it again.

NO! Ab work is RESISTANCE training, and works exactly the same as all other resistance training, breaking down the muscle, which then repairs itself to adapt and prepare to handle that stress again. Resistance simply gives the muscle a REASON to grow. If you don't give it time and nutrition to repair itself, you won't build muscle or get stronger.

Most people feel like they can train abs everyday because they usually don't feel as sore as other muscles. There are two reasons for this. One is that we use our abs every day. It's the same deal with our calves, which is why its so hard to train calves for growth/strength. When you use a muscle group every day, it takes more stimulation to make the muscle grow.

BTW, you may not think so, but you DO want your muscles to grow. When muscles grow they fill out saggy skin left by fat and create the tight, tone look most women want.

The second reason people don't get sore when they work their abs is they don't work them anough in a given session. Your abs are tough, and are also mostly made up of fast-twitch fibers, which means they need lower reps and resistance to grow, not a million bodyweight crunches.

In my opinion, there are only 2 ab exercises you need to do; weighted crunches and leg/butt lifts. Grab a weight, 5 lbs at LEAST, and probably at least 10 lbs, lay on your back, extend your arms holding the weight above your head with both hands and try to touch the weight to the ceiling by squeezing your abs. Your only going to move A FEW INCHES, and barely lift your upper back off the ground. Once your abs are sueezed, you've done an entire rep. If you can do more then 15 with ease, then you don't have enough weight.

leg/butt lifts are the other ab exercise I like. I don't call them leg lifts, because lifting your legs DOESN'T WORK YOUR ABS. You abs are only engaged when you also lift your butt off the ground. Give it a try. You'll lift your legs 'til the cows come home, but once you start also lifting your butt at the top of the movement, you'll probably have trouble doing more then ten the first time.

Do a set of weighted crunches, then imediately do a set of leg/butt lifts, then rest AT LEAST 1 MINUTE before repeating. Do that 4 times and see if you don't have trouble getting out of bed the next day. Trust me, you'll wait at least 1 day before doing it again.

Ditto.

But would like to add Prone Bridges/Planks to the recommended ab workouts. They are almost like a push-up position except you support your weight with your forearms flat on the floor, keep your entire body tight and support your lower body with just your toes, hold for 30 seconds. It is harder than it sounds.

My personal trainer wants me doing abs every day so based on that I would say no you don't need a rest period.

Add this to the list of reasons why the average personal trainer is about as useless in a gym as a retarded monkey, and not nearly as entertaining.

Harsh words considering your qualifications aren't listed in your profile, its blank.

I do like the lifting the weight to the ceiling ab exercise you suggested though, I want to try that out.

Cable Crunches are an amazing Ab workout. That being said, you only need to workout abs once a week. The best way to improve your ab visibility is to reduce your body fat %.

My personal trainer wants me doing abs every day so based on that I would say no you don't need a rest period.

Add this to the list of reasons why the average personal trainer is about as useless in a gym as a retarded monkey, and not nearly as entertaining.

Seeing that she is nationally certifed and I can't see any where that you are I will take her word over yours.

My personal trainer wants me doing abs every day so based on that I would say no you don't need a rest period.

Add this to the list of reasons why the average personal trainer is about as useless in a gym as a retarded monkey, and not nearly as entertaining.

Seeing that she is nationally certifed and I can't see any where that you are I will take her word over yours.

A certification is just a piece of paper. That being said muscle tissue is muscle tissue; does your trainer believe that your abs respond differently to resistance then quads or traps do? Why does your trainer say you need ab work everyday; do you have bad pasture? Are your abs excessively weak? Can your abs not support your torso sufficiently? Is your back overcompensating for your abs?

Just because she has a piece of paper, doesn't mean she is above questioning; by anyone regardless of their qualifications. I have seen countless personal trainers teach poor squat form and just because the are certified doesn't make it right.