Is too much ab work possible?

jennyonthespot · February 2016

How legit do you think this article is, in terms of too much direct ab and oblique work contributing to a thicker-looking midsection?

https://www.t-nation.com/training/sexy-female-training

I'm thinking you'd have to do a WAY higher than average volume of ab work to have this issue, but I'm just curious.

ManiacalLaugh · February 2016

I'm not very good at disseminating information when it comes to weightlifting because I'm still such a newb...

...but it bothers me that the author asserts "men and women aren't different except in the baby-making department." Well, that's not true. We have different hormones and different physiques. 20 additional lbs of LBM on me is going to look different than it would on my boyfriend. It's kind of weird of the author to say that we're all completely in the wrong for thinking that.

Plus, although I'm a newb, I've seen both fitness models who work obsessively towards building muscles and women who lift to be fit. There is a large difference for sure, but even the fitness models don't usually have the thunder quads and the mean guns the author makes it seem like they should have. The "normally fit" women have even less of that issue.

The only time I've seen it is in competitive bodybuilding - and that's with heavy suspicion of hormone and possible steroid use.

But then again - lifting newb. I could be wrong.

jennyonthespot · February 2016

The author's whole tone comes across as rather patronizing to me. His conclusion that women do have the capability to quickly gain "bulky" muscle in their lower body seems to be based on anecdotal evidence. I can't dis it though, 'cause he's a trainer and is in a better position to draw those types of conclusions.

I can only assume fitness models train for aesthetics, to attain a certain look. I'm curious about what the method is to the madness, and if this gentleman is correct in his assertion that too much direct ab work + a layer of flab = a barrel-looking mid section. I do a decent amount of core work because I'm more interested in functional fitness, but I'm curious about what type of shape that will ultimately leave me with. I'd still be cool with looking like thick-midsection Britney, because let's be honest, she's still in better shape than I am. :-)

ManiacalLaugh · February 2016

jennyonthespot wrote: »

I can only assume fitness models train for aesthetics, to attain a certain look. I'm curious about what the method is to the madness, and if this gentleman is correct in his assertion that too much direct ab work + a layer of flab = a barrel-looking mid section. I do a decent amount of core work because I'm more interested in functional fitness, but I'm curious about what type of shape that will ultimately leave me with. I'd still be cool with looking like thick-midsection Britney, because let's be honest, she's still in better shape than I am. :-)

Yeah, I have had this question too. I have a nice hour glass figure now (it's just an hour glass that need to be smaller). Would obsessive core work cause me to lose some of that curviness? Ultimately, I don't care too much - core work has vastly improved my posture and has relieved a lot of chronic pain in my back, so I'm not stopping, but it is a curiosity for me.

I think it boils down to body type. If one is naturally a big-bottomed girl, sure, her quads are probably going to be a little larger than some. If one has a shorter torso than most (the infamous "apple" shape), then additional LBM is probably going to make them look "thicker" around the waist.

So, the fact that the author makes it a blanket, absolute statement about all women is a little troubling as well.

JoshuaMcAllister · February 2016

I got this far "I'm just saying that 95% of the time, I have a pretty good idea how a female wants to look. Maybe it's her clothing, maybe it's her jewelry, maybe it's the car she drives, or maybe it's the way she walks and talks. I don't know, but I do know that I can pick up on it rather quickly." and just had to stop reading.

I wouldn't take the information as accurate considering he thinks "95%" of the time he can make an assumption and know exactly how to train that women. You would probably be better looking for articles and information from reliable and reputable sources, this looks like a low level blog written by some PT that thinks he is gods gift to earth and we/ or women owe him something.

That being said if you are doing to much ab work, you'll know all about it when you try to get out of bed the following day! My general rule for core is, go until I cant do anymore. If the following day is difficult, I'll easy off. Then pick back up when I've recovered.

LiveLoveLift48 · February 2016

I incorporate some type of ab workout in every one of my workouts and one day a week i do an hour of core only. I find that when doing core, if i use anything weighted it makes my mid section look thicker...so i rarely do any weighted core exercises. It takes ALOT for my core to feel sore from it except on my 1 hour core day. I think that is one muscle that does not tire as much as others in the sense that you can do them as often as you like. However, that being said...i do these things to have strength in my core and a solid foundation so i can lift without injury. All the ab work in the world wont do much if you have a layer of fat covering them. ( i do).

Yi5hedr3 · February 2016

That's pretty common knowledge that you add waist size by exercising the muscle to much. A couple minutes of Planks twice a week is all you need.

cafeaulait7 · February 2016

I think it's possible if you are concerned with having the smallest waist possible, because the obliques can get a bit larger, depending on workload and genetics, etc. But if you get to that point, you could always cut down on oblique work and they'll fade away again. It's no problem

Mine went up by a consistent half inch in my waist due to obliques, but I like the look of them better because you can tell I'm fit there. Before weighted ab work, my waist hardly looked different size-wise, but with less definition you'd assume my wide-ish waist is more fat than it really is. It's just wide-ish to start with for me because of my nearby bone structure. I like the definition better on body types like mine, even if that takes a half inch to show.

usmcmp · February 2016

1. If it comes from t-nation ignore it. The good authors post the best information on other sites.
2. Direct ab work isn't really necessary for most people. Compound lifts (bench press, pull up, overhead press, squats, deadlift) are going to force you to engage your core to provide stability, which is the most important factor to your core.
3. Doing weighted side exercises can add some volume to your obliques, which will make your waist slightly thicker. Doing other ab work is going to add some volume to the main part of your abs.

My abs in my avatar were built with no direct core work. I still have a fairly small waist and a definite hour glass shape. If you are doing ab work to try to target fat you can stop because you can't spot reduce fat.

jennyonthespot · February 2016

Appreciate the feedback everyone. I take a kickboxing class, and we do a lot of core work as part of conditioning. I only do weighted ab work (Russian twists, sit ups) as part of a medicine ball circuit once a week. That's really just for fun, to change up the routine. I consider most of the core work more functional than anything. My squat form used to be atrocious because my core was so weak. Definitely not trying to spot reduce. I know better than that.

I used to have a larger hip to waist ratio, but I think the change has more to do with the fat coming off my hips more quickly than it has come off my waist. Oh well, can't do much about that!

Is too much ab work possible?

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