Over-sized Obliques

JMike · 21-Mar-06, 06:43 PM

Okay, so I've been doing a lot of work lately and my obliques keep growing and now they protrude quite a bit, and it looks weird. What's my next step? When my back takes on more width will I even out?
Or should I do some work on the transverse abs to pull everything in?
Perhaps when my four pack becomes a six pack then it'll look alright?
Or do I just need to cut down on the side crunches?

Mike

**.V.** · 21-Mar-06, 07:20 PM

For most folks - the obliques grow just fine without direct work. If you directly work them they will get huge. Just do your crunches, decline crunches with weight, cable crunches...whatever your preferred ab exercises are and don't work the obliques.

Unless you are a powerlifter who's primary goal for ab work is a super strong abdomen to support your super strong back for your super strong lifts. It really depends on your goals. In short:

Direct oblique work = strong abdomen and look like a tank.
No Direct oblique work = get the "V" shaped torso that many of us want.

Oh and making that upper back really W I D E helps too.

DaRkAnGel · 21-Mar-06, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_welch503

For most folks - the obliques grow just fine without direct work. If you directly work them they will get huge. Just do your crunches, decline crunches with weight, cable crunches...whatever your preferred ab exercises are and don't work the obliques.

Unless you are a powerlifter who's primary goal for ab work is a super strong abdomen to support your super strong back for your super strong lifts. It really depends on your goals. In short:

Direct oblique work = strong abdomen and look like a tank.
No Direct oblique work = get the "V" shaped torso that many of us want.

Oh and making that upper back really W I D E helps too.

Yea i got big obliques but my ab routine is pretty extensive. (all angles)

**.V.** · 21-Mar-06, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaRkAnGel

Yea i got big obliques but my ab routine is pretty extensive. (all angles)

And your goal is to lift BIG WEIGHTS more than appearance I think??

You need the big obliques for stability.

**maverick** · 22-Mar-06, 12:02 AM

Many bodybuilders state that they don't do any weighted oblique work to avoid that "blocky" look, which takes away from the V taper and ruins the illusion of expansive shoulders. Just lay off any direct work on them for a while. When you go back to working them, stick to twisting crunvch movements.

etothepii · 22-Mar-06, 09:03 AM

I must be in the minority. I like the "blocky" look. I'm a short guy, and I'd like it if people would some day say, "He's short, but he's built like a brick s**t house!"

Plus, except for during puberty, my metabolism has always been really slow. Personally, I can benefit from as much muscle as I can pack on my frame.

Consequently, I do weighted Russian twists as part of my ab workout, three times per week.

EDIT: I just realized I'm posting in the body building forum... my comments are really out of place!!!

Heck, If I could achieve the body builder look, I'd go for it -- taped v-shape. But genetics and age are working against me.

JMike · 22-Mar-06, 11:30 AM

Hmm.. I'll post some picts shortly. The idea of not doing an exercise to purposely weaken a muscle group really jars with me but I'll see what happens with working my back and the rest of my abs more. Thanks for the tips though.

Mike

**.V.** · 22-Mar-06, 01:10 PM

Jmike, you aren't neglecting them by not working them directly. Obliques just build really easily and respond well enough for most people's needs from the other ab exercises. If you want them big and strong - then work them...but that does create the big blocky look. who cares though as long as it's solid.

CF-OC_gal · 22-Mar-06, 05:06 PM

Just exercise them without weight resistance or with very little. It could be that your obliques are more responsive than other muscle groups. We all have our strong and weak points.

Dan C · 23-Mar-06, 08:43 AM

The fat that's covering the rest of your 6-pack, covers the rest of your waist as well. I think what you are seeing might be over-developed 'love handles'...

If you were to lean-out a bit, I bet you'd find that the obliques added a look of power to your physique (if that is what you are going for). Check out the Farnese Hecules...

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/HerculesFarnese.htm

And John Grimek (who was a weightlifter 1st, bodybuilder 2nd) used to side bend 200+ lbs on a barbell. It didn't seem to take away his asthetics...

http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/grimek.html

**cursor** · 23-Mar-06, 09:55 AM

If you can't flex those obliques (making them hard to the touch), then it's simply fat that "looks weird". Chances are that it's not muscle that's bulging at (on top of) your obliques. I guess we'll see when you post pics.

JMike · 23-Mar-06, 10:34 AM

Lol, Cursor, thanks for calling me a fatty

I'll post picts after my workout tonite, about 4-6 hours from now.

Mike

[edit] And yeah, they're hard to the touch.

**cursor** · 23-Mar-06, 10:46 AM

... c o o l ...

:

JMike · 24-Mar-06, 12:48 PM

http://www.picfury.com/3/obliques-1.html
didn't want things going to my head

http://www.picfury.com/3/Img_3802-1.html

Mike

DaRkAnGel · 24-Mar-06, 03:01 PM

Yes welch i am most definetely more about performance/strength than appearance.

Side bends are really great by the way if you don't mind the blocky look i guess.

I recently hit 115 x 8 on ithe exercise. Not quite 200, but getting there.