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Crunches: How many times per week?

C_b Posts: 8 Joined: 2002/08/22	2002/12/09, 02:15 PM Newbiw Q: Are abdominal muscles somehow different from other muscle groups? Most of what I've read indicates that rather than shooting for 8-12 reps to failure as on most exercises, that on crunches, dozens of reps are OK. I've also seen fitness programs recommending crunches every day, rather than the 2-3 times per week for other muscle groups. What the low down on crunches? Thanks, Cb
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2002/12/09, 07:24 PM If you can do dozens of reps, it means you are doing them too fast. Slow it down and they will be more effective. I wouldn't do them every day as the muscle wouldn't recover as well. -------------- The trouble with jogging is that, by the time you realize you are not in shape for it, it is too far to walk back! Franklin P. Jones Ivan Montreal Canada
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2002/12/09, 10:12 PM Depends..if you are trying to build stomach muscles, then you have to treat them as muscles which they are and train them with resistance. I would do twice per week in this case, giving time for recovery like any other muscle group. If you are just trying for a flatter stomach, then regular crunches are in order, and you can do them every other day if you like. Remember, you cannot spot reduce though, so if you are trying just to lose fat around the abdominal area, you cannot target it for this reason. Abs are a product of diet as much or moreso than work. -------------- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary!
dan4fitness Posts: 5 Joined: 2001/08/31	2002/12/11, 10:24 AM I suggest you work your abdominals like any other muscle of the body. Your abs need time to recover and rebuild just like arms, chest, back and legs. If you are trying to lose fat from your waist, you must adjust your diet. Doing 100's of crunches will not reduce your waist size. This will only cause you to over-train your abdominals, which will lead to muscle tissue loss and then the fat will stand out even more.
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2002/12/11, 05:39 PM Good critical thinking C_b! No abs are no different than any other muscle in your body and those that prescribe 100 situps a day are subscribing to old science. I would not train abs more than three times a week, just like any other group. PS- as everyone else said, visible abs are in your diet, not your workout, though. -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
C_b Posts: 8 Joined: 2002/08/22	2002/12/14, 09:42 PM Thanks for the replies! I'm not attempting to "spot-diet" or emphasize exercises for ab definition, I'm simply doing crunches as part of full-body resistance training routine. I've read repeatedly that six-pack abs are mostly the result of behavior in the kitchen! Even when I got to a 3 second contract, one second hold, 3 second release I'm able to do ~30 reps without much discomfort, maybe I'll try a small weight next time. Cb
jwhisner Posts: 35 Joined: 2002/08/04	2002/12/16, 03:38 PM i do abs 2-3 times a week. and i only can get to about 15 reps (some exercises 25) per set. but i found the slower i go, the more i get out of my ab exercises.
nikki_m_austin Posts: 35 Joined: 2002/08/24	2002/12/19, 09:44 PM W O W I do abs 2-3 times a week, and have been doing that for some time. I breezed over this topic the other day, and really tried to slow down (as much as I could) and concentrate on my reps at the gym today. Holy cow I'm in pain. Thanks for the reminder. Luv these boards! Nik