Busy

[.V.]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

LOL, I can count, I swear!

We see that.

No really, I call those my basic 4 real lifts. Then if I'm give out and don't want to do more...I bag the OHP, Crunches, and direct arm work. If not...I do it. But I seriously cannot remember a workout in the last year where I didn't also do the OHP too.

[.V.]

Great advice Ironman and Merrida. Excellent starting place.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by .V.

No really, I call those my basic 4 real lifts. Then if I'm give out and don't want to do more...I bag the OHP, Crunches, and direct arm work. If not...I do it. But I seriously cannot remember a workout in the last year where I didn't also do the OHP too.

I bag the OHP if I'm short on time, but that's rare. Wednesday and Thursday are busy days for me, so once in a while I end up skipping it, but I usually do it.

Never do any direct arm work or crunches anymore.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Never do any direct arm work or crunches anymore.

Gotchya totally on sticking to the compound movements, and makes total, logical sense. So do you do any isolated/direct ab work, or is your ab work consisted of the deep TVA control you must have during your free lifting?

I can see if I tried to incorporate this with a client: What about my abs, many I need core work, Mens Health said so. And any discussion on stabilization and recruitment for such would be like talking to a wall. So I'm curious.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Merrida

So do you do any isolated/direct ab work, or is your ab work consisted of the deep TVA control you must have during your free lifting?

Nope, no direct ab work. Saves time to focus on other things

Of course, you'll get differing opinions, but I believe my exercise selection give lots of ab stimulation without specifically working them. How can you DL or squat or even row and not use your abs?

For the average person doing the normal machine circuit, they will not hit their abs hard, and may need supplemental work. But by sticking to free weights and compound exercises, I believe I don't need any direct work.

I just suggested it to Bob because he's short on time.

For the time-crunched person who feels guilty not doing any direct ab work, I suggest ab planks in front of the television at home. Every one has time for television, so they have time for some ab planks.

For the super time-crunched person, I recommend a single ab plank to failure.

[Merrida]

I actually have home clients who have asked me to put together a "TV workout" for them. Sure, sure, we train,...but they want things they can do to target their tough areas while they're with their family watching TV,.....definitely planks are on that list. When I demonstrate them, and keep talking and talking explaining why they're effective,....they think, "wow, those look easy, they can't do much." Then (my internal little moment of triumph), - most untrained individuals attempt the plank and 15 seconds later they've collapsed and look at me confused,....."but....you made it look so easy!" My reply, "and if you practise enough,...one day, they will be for you too!"

There's something about deceptive exercises I confess (is that bad of me?) that will give me a chuckle, (which I supress of course),....my clients who know me better have learned to read me, and some even ask me what I'm up to because I have "that GLINT" in my eye! (Oh no, I'm giving away my "tells!")

If you really want to get them away from the TV, tell them they can only watch TV while in a parallel squat wall sit hold against the wall. The TV will be off in 1-2 minutes for most people, if not sooner.

[Merrida]

Either that or they'll eventually develop massively strong quads......

[LiftGirl]

Or they just won't listen and they'll watch TV anyway, in a squat or not

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Or they just won't listen and they'll watch TV anyway, in a squat or not

That's probably more like it.