Is it OK to do abs everyday?

[RyanMcCarthy]

OK I have a stupid question. I can never get my abs to hurt the next day, no matter what I do. In fact, the thing that hurt my abs the most has been when I do sprints.

Other than that, situps etc just don't hurt them. My abs fail when doing crunches, and then I can't do any more, but they still don't hurt the next day.

What do I need to do?

I assume by "hurt" you are referring to soreness (at least I hope so). If this is the case, no need to worry. DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) is not an indicator of muscle growth or how good of a workout you have had.

 

[RyanMcCarthy]

I was talking about light boxing style ab routines. Here is what I do (my trainer makes me do):

-30 regular sit ups with trainer holding my feet down
-15 twisting sit ups on each side with one feet under my other knee (elbow to opposite knee) - much harder than twisting crunches btw
-25 leg raises while holding trainer's leg and him pushing it down then afterwards hold it at different positions for 20 seconds total
-repeat the last exercise if needed

I know this doesn't seem like much but I am just starting again to train my abs. I'm sure the reps will climb as I keep training. But if you do the above exercises properly it is still a great short ab routine.


As you can see the above routine isn't a ab workout where I do sets and sets of failure work and resistance training. It's a short ab routine to slightly fatigue the abs after each boxing training. Would this be safe to do everyday? (5 days a week).

I am not a doctor/exercise physiologist/etc., so take this with a grain of salt, but I think you will likely be OK with this. Personally, I would say it's better to do every other day though.

 

[Liquid Rockface]

I'm 23, 165cm, 163lbs, about 15-16% body fat (according to this body composition machine at the gym, whatever that's worth).

I'm not saying I can do endless numbers of situps or whatever, I can't (despite having quite a hard stomach). Thing is that I reach failure after a couple of sets of 20 crunches and similar stomach exercises mentioned above, yet I never feel anything the next day.

I should add I've improved at doing crunches etc and I feel my stomach getting stronger. Just I never feel sore (yes, I didn't mean "hurt").

 

[Cap'n]

Fast answer? No.

You don't want your abs to be TOO big, remember. A small waist shows off your v-taper way better, too.

 

[Mumrik]

OK I have a stupid question. I can never get my abs to hurt the next day, no matter what I do. In fact, the thing that hurt my abs the most has been when I do sprints.

Other than that, situps etc just don't hurt them. My abs fail when doing crunches, and then I can't do any more, but they still don't hurt the next day.

What do I need to do?

Try ab wheel rollouts.

 

[XTrainer]

Low rep resistance ab training (machines, weighted sit ups) don't do shit for me. I've tried many different types of ab exercises in my life and resistance training never seemed to work for me.

If machines and weighted sit-ups are the best you can think of in terms of loaded core training, you need to expand your horizons.

But even with weighted sit ups, are you telling me that you never got stronger doing them? That seems almost impossible, unless you made no attempt at progression.

 

[therealchamp]

I'm 23, 165cm, 163lbs, about 15-16% body fat (according to this body composition machine at the gym, whatever that's worth).

I'm not saying I can do endless numbers of situps or whatever, I can't (despite having quite a hard stomach). Thing is that I reach failure after a couple of sets of 20 crunches and similar stomach exercises mentioned above, yet I never feel anything the next day.

I should add I've improved at doing crunches etc and I feel my stomach getting stronger. Just I never feel sore (yes, I didn't mean "hurt").

If you've been doing abs for a while there's no need for you to feel soreness unless you train your abs excessively. My abs are only sore when I stop and then start training abs again. Once your used to training them you shouldn't be feeling sore the next day after each ab routine unless you are overtraining them.

 

[therealchamp]

If machines and weighted sit-ups are the best you can think of in terms of loaded core training, you need to expand your horizons.

But even with weighted sit ups, are you telling me that you never got stronger doing them? That seems almost impossible, unless you made no attempt at progression.

I'm sorry I'm not a world class trainer like yourself. You must know some crazy shit.

Of course you get stronger, but what I mean is when I do low rep resistance training with abs, I don't ge the burn like you do with high rep crunches/sit ups/leg raises. It doesnt feel like it makes my abs harder as in able to take punches better.

 

[James Fuller]

I'm sorry I'm not a world class trainer like yourself. You must know some crazy shit.

Of course you get stronger, but what I mean is when I do low rep resistance training with abs, I don't ge the burn like you do with high rep crunches/sit ups/leg raises. It doesnt feel like it makes my abs harder as in able to take punches better.

lol or he just knows more than two exercises...

 

[Liquid Rockface]

If you've been doing abs for a while there's no need for you to feel soreness unless you train your abs excessively. My abs are only sore when I stop and then start training abs again. Once your used to training them you shouldn't be feeling sore the next day after each ab routine unless you are overtraining them.

Ok that makes sense. I can hardly say I've been doing abs for any amount of time. I do it from time to time, but I think that naturally my core is quite strong.

Now if I can only get my pullups better...

I did a bunch of abs stuff tonight in an effort to wreck my stomach and feel it tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it feels in the mornign :icon_twis

 

[XTrainer]

I'm sorry I'm not a world class trainer like yourself. You must know some crazy shit.

Of course you get stronger, but what I mean is when I do low rep resistance training with abs, I don't ge the burn like you do with high rep crunches/sit ups/leg raises. It doesnt feel like it makes my abs harder as in able to take punches better.

World class trainer? No, I just read the FAQs:
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f13/catalogue-core-abdominal-oblique-exercises-387889/

"Get the burn?" "Makes my abs harder?" Are you kidding me? And I'm really interested to know how doing doing 500 crunches prepares your abs to take punches better...actually, I'm more interested in the process you used to come to this conclusion.

 

[Liquid Rockface]

Ok, just woke up, and my abs are not sore at all

 

[Dark God]

The real question is, why? Light, high rep abdominal exercise isn't productive, and all that spinal flexion is potentially harmful.

But I train UFC I gotta be tuff. :icon_chee

 

[EyeNeyE**]

if you're working out different parts of your abs doing different exercises, it should be fine. Like doing crunches to work your upper abs, then doing leglifts or sprints the next day to work your lower.

 

[Revok]

if you're working out different parts of your abs doing different exercises, it should be fine. Like doing crunches to work your upper abs, then doing leglifts or sprints the next day to work your lower.

 

[DrBdan]

if you're working out different parts of your abs doing different exercises, it should be fine. Like doing crunches to work your upper abs, then doing leglifts or sprints the next day to work your lower.

Here's an exercise for you: flex your upper abs without flexing your lower abs. Go ahead, I'll wait.

 

[B3rserk3R]

Try ab wheel rollouts.

My thoughts exactly.

This thread is full fail btw. I'll never figure out why people reserve their most retarded thoughts for ab training.

*Goes home to rub tabasco sause on his abs because the spiciness with BURN the fat right off*

 

[XTrainer]

Here's an exercise for you: flex your upper abs without flexing your lower abs. Go ahead, I'll wait.

LMAO.

 

[BaliShagSmoke]

*Goes home to rub tabasco sause on his abs because the spiciness with BURN the fat right off*

BWAHAHA

so that would that make for some hot abs?

*waits for laughter*

dammit, yours was much funnier

 

[Curtis Gibbs]

"ab"/Core exersizes

1.Plank/weighted plank
2.Ab rollouts
3.V ups.
4. lift your back/head of the ground 8 inches and lift your feet with straight legs 6 inches
5.weighted situps
6. side planks
7. chinnies/bycicle
8. Back extension ( to obviusly strengthen the back aswell)