Ab rollers... any good?

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
looking to get an Ab roller to help with the abs. Any suggestions?

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    If you have gym access barbell ab rollouts are the same thing as the ab roller. It's a nice core exercise.
  • HamsterManV2
    HamsterManV2 Posts: 449 Member
    Ab rollers are fantastic! Make sure your form is good and start with knee ones, some people get pain in their elbows because they use their arms to push out - you should think of using your core to move out and back in.. Arms are just stationary and 'there'.
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    they are an ok addition to ab exercises, but i wouldn't rely solely on them for my core exercises. i got one for a couple dollars from a garage sale.
  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    They are good for working both abs and back (full core). But like HamsterMan stated, make sure your form is good, your back is straight, abs pulled in and don't go too low to begin with or you will hurt your back.
  • toughmudderMN
    toughmudderMN Posts: 129 Member
    They are OK, but don't expect to get the washboard abs that you see advertised with them. I have one and use it as part of an ab super set with hanging leg raises and GHD sit ups.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    looking to get an Ab roller to help with the abs. Any suggestions?

    It's a good exercise, but it won't target ab fat, if that's what you're trying to do.
  • drachfit
    drachfit Posts: 217 Member
    If you can do a standing ab rollout with proper technique then you probably have killer ab strength. It is a very challenging movement.

    Great tool, and cheap too.

    Check out Ross enamit's videos for technique and how to progress towards your first full standing ab rollout.
  • Witchdoctor58
    Witchdoctor58 Posts: 226 Member
    My husband brought one home, and it sits doing nothing. Any decent ab routine you do will work the muscles without a piece of equipment. If I had to buy anything for abs, it would be a Roman bench, because you can work the back muscles too. But I don't have the space...as it is my weight bench and weights eat into my workout area. If I could, I'd give you mine.
  • myheartsabattleground
    myheartsabattleground Posts: 2,040 Member
    I remember having a "as seen on tv" one from an infomercial as a kid. I despised that stupid thing, getting hurt so much !
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited March 2016
    This is like the third thread you've posted about wanting the "holy grail" of abs....

    As stated in all of the other threads... all you need to do is eat less calories and lose body fat.

    You cannot spot reduce, you don't need to train abs seperately, you don't need to reduce carbs, etc. etc. etc. If you want to purchase one, go ahead. but it's not going to get you your goal.
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    I have one- I think I got it DD's for 6 bucks or something. It's fun, but in the end, I prefer using my fitness ball for abs exercises, though, because I can worry less about my back (I have spinal problems).
    Fitness balls are about the same price as the ab-roller, but you can do a LOT more with them for a total body workout, instead of just one tool for one muscle.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    This is like the third thread you've posted about wanting the "holy grail" of abs....

    As stated in all of the other threads... all you need to do is eat less calories and lose body fat.

    You cannot spot reduce, you don't need to train abs seperately, you don't need to reduce carbs, etc. etc. etc. If you want to purchase one, go ahead. but it's not going to get you your goal.

    oh i know but its good to at least work them out as well.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    This is like the third thread you've posted about wanting the "holy grail" of abs....

    As stated in all of the other threads... all you need to do is eat less calories and lose body fat.

    You cannot spot reduce, you don't need to train abs seperately, you don't need to reduce carbs, etc. etc. etc. If you want to purchase one, go ahead. but it's not going to get you your goal.

    oh i know but its good to at least work them out as well.

    Okay.

    then you might want to start out with a few things before...

    can you do planks (prone iso ab), side planks, TRX ab crunch, leg raises, etc.? If not, focus on these first. An Ab wheel is incredibly difficult to do, and if you lack the core strength to do them the wheel is almost worthless.

    If you already have a strong core, get one! They are pretty cheap, so why not?
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    ab wheels aren't difficult
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    SonyaCele wrote: »
    ab wheels aren't difficult

    Do it standing or stack 45's on your back and call it not difficult
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    come on , any exercise can be made difficult. you can do it with plates, and with your feet in a TRX and thats even more difficult. But the traditional Ab wheel movement is not a difficult exercise.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    SonyaCele wrote: »
    come on , any exercise can be made difficult. you can do it with plates, and with your feet in a TRX and thats even more difficult. But the traditional Ab wheel movement is not a difficult exercise.

    Meh, I think bodyweight squats are easy but some people struggle with them. It's all relative.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited March 2016
    SonyaCele wrote: »
    come on , any exercise can be made difficult. you can do it with plates, and with your feet in a TRX and thats even more difficult. But the traditional Ab wheel movement is not a difficult exercise.

    You must be a bad *kitten* Check this quote from Mike Boyle, a very respected S&C guy:

    "However, we have a small problem, we need progression. Ab wheel rollouts are tough. Too tough. That's the reason I abandoned them years ago. Many of my athletes got exceptionally sore or were unable to hold a stable lumbar spine. In fact, I actually told my athletes who had any abdominal issues (previous strains, etc.) never do them under any circumstances."


    The article below gives more thoughts and how to progress the ab rollout:


    https://www.t-nation.com/training/anterior-core-training

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