Too much abs??

FemCat · 03-Feb-05, 05:00 PM

Hey, can I do abs every nite?
Just wondering if it's ok to do some kind of ab work every day, or do you have to take time off, like for legs and stuff.

FemCaT

gcs118 · 03-Feb-05, 05:28 PM

Abs are just like any other muscle, they need time off to recover. I'd recommend twice a week, but no more than 3. If you're really working them good, 3 times will be more than enough.

FemCat · 03-Feb-05, 05:35 PM

K, tell me more about abs though.... like.. do they get bulkier if you do them too much?? and... what will it do to your abs if you work them everyday, as opposed to working them 3x a week?

FemCaT ;-)

**Todd** · 03-Feb-05, 06:57 PM

Your abs will not grow or respond as well as if you'd only work them 1 or 2 times per week. Overworking them will not allow them time to recover and get stronger and more conditioned, just like any other muscle group, as mentioned before. Train them once or twice per week directly, that is all they need to grow and become stronger. Working them directly more than that is just you wasting your time and energy, plus you won't get more results, but perhaps worse.

Realise that your abs get worked indirectly everytime you do an exercise..whether its for arms, chest, back, legs, etc.. 1 or 2 times per week is all the work they need. More is not better in bodybuilding.

Cort · 03-Feb-05, 07:20 PM

Depends, if you're doing in excess of 100ish crunches/situps and all that with very high reps, chances are it wont take very long to recover. The downside is you'd be better served with some heavier resistance rather than adding an insane amount of reps.

gcs118 · 03-Feb-05, 07:23 PM

Yeah I usually skip abs because squats and deadlifts take care of them for me. If you do crunches and situps, I'd say doing a few sets of each would be fine 3 times a week. But if you really want to make them stand out, add weight when you do them. With weight I'd suggest no more than 2 times a week.

You don't have to worry about them getting bulky. I assume you are a female from your username. How many guys have you seen with bulky/ugly abs? Probably not many, so you don't have to worry

Also, from your question I assume you would like better abs. Do not forget that DIET is the main part of how well you can see your abs.

FemCat · 03-Feb-05, 11:03 PM

Hey, yeah, I am a girl.. and i do want better abs.. bu the main reason I asked the question, is cuz I really like the feeling and routine of doing abs before i go to bed, maybe i am not really "doing abs" the way you guys are though.. like, for instance, i do 3 sets, 15-30 reps/ 3 diff exercises.. like crunches on the ball, lower leg lifts and side to sides.. etc.. is this the same way you guys work your abs?? I like that burning feeling right before bed, and now it's kinda like a habit for me... is this still bad??

thx a bunch all!!!

FeMCat

gcs118 · 03-Feb-05, 11:40 PM

Crunches, sit ups and leg lifts are pretty much the foundation of ab exercises. (Don't forget about obliques, the side abs - crunches to the sides can help here). You can hold weight behind your head or across your chest to make the exercises more difficult, or between your feet for leg lifts.

These bodyweight exercises can only take you so far, but in your case it might be enough. If you want better abs, it is all about lowering your body fat percentage. Working out your abs will not in itself make better abs - you cannot spot reduce, meaning fat comes off as a whole, not on parts such as stomach if you work it more.

FemCat · 04-Feb-05, 07:33 AM

cool.. thx, now i will add weight to my ab routine and do that 2-3x a week..

BUT STILL... have my question out there---- "Is it ok to do my abs without weights before bed every nite?? like i said, not doing them so much for the result of muscles.. just like the burn before bed.. is this harmful to do everyday?? re-read the way i do my sets..(above)

feMCaT

**Lady C** · 04-Feb-05, 08:18 AM

Yes, doing bodyweight ab exercises EVERY day will overwork the muscles. Another note, if you can do more than 10 ab crunches then you are probably using too many hip flexor muscles and not actually working the abs.

CF-OC_gal · 04-Feb-05, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FemCat

Hey, yeah, I am a girl.. and i do want better abs.. bu the main reason I asked the question, is cuz I really like the feeling and routine of doing abs before i go to bed, maybe i am not really "doing abs" the way you guys are though.. like, for instance, i do 3 sets, 15-30 reps/ 3 diff exercises.. like crunches on the ball, lower leg lifts and side to sides.. etc.. is this the same way you guys work your abs?? I like that burning feeling right before bed, and now it's kinda like a habit for me... is this still bad??

thx a bunch all!!!

FeMCat

That sounds more like you are motivated by the burn addiction than common sense. (I'm not putting you down) Why not try to change your habit to one that isn't a waste of time. You could alternate abs one night and lower back the next night. Your choice of ab exercises is fine, but you should balance it with lower back training (spinae erector). Hyperextensions on the ball and reverse leg lifts are a suggestion. GSC118 is right about the obliques but many women do not want to build size in their obliques because of the effect on their waistline. I would stick to bodyweight for those. They get targeted often anyways in a full weight training program.

gcs118 · 04-Feb-05, 10:54 AM

You say you enjoy the burn, which is understandable. But say you do only work abs 2-3 times a week, even with bodyweight. I think you'll be looking forward to your workout and go harder than if you did the same thing each night.

FemCat · 04-Feb-05, 11:04 AM

Yah, Gcs118.. you r right... i will work harder with weights on the abs just a few times a week... and Brat- i'll do some other exercises on the ball at nite before bed, those sound good. i think it's the stretching burning feeling that i like so much, it makes me feel rejeuvinated at the end of the night.

maybe i'll pop in a yoga tape and do some of that too.

;-) FeMCaT

rbuchman · 04-Feb-05, 11:53 AM

Don't worry about getting "bulky" abs. And remember that good abs are made in the kitchen, 90% of a a great set of abs (esp for females) is a low body fat. Doing ab excersizes as a method of wieght loss is incredibly ineffective.

Tuna Fish · 04-Feb-05, 01:38 PM

Hi FemCat-

Some good points made. Reducing your bodyfat will be a dietary thing, and will allow whatever muscle you have to actually show. Do it right and those abs will show prominently.

If you work abs with resistance, with the intent of making the muscles grow, then 2x per week is plenty, especially when you figure in the indirect stimulation garnered from other full-body exercises you may be doing (squats, deadlifts etc).

That said, if your goal is endurance (perhaps you are an athlete...?), then you would not be overtraining by working with bodyweight exercises more frequently. You should, however, take a day off every now and then (at least once per week).

Endurance work vs. cosmetic work are two completely different things. If you want endurance, you must train for it. If you want growth, you must eat for it, with less emphasis on the overall volume of exercise.

Good luck!

Tuna