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2005/08/02, 05:22 PM
Should i do crunches every day...or every other day? I do weighted crunches...about 5 sets of 30-40 with 15 pound weight plate. Just starting working on my abs...so im wondering if its possible to overtrain the ab area by doing them everyday..or should i do them every other day...allowing a day to rest?
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2005/08/02, 06:06 PM
Id give em some rest. Especially if your using weights.
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2005/08/02, 07:36 PM
depends on your abs. some people recover faster, and need more training whereas some only need to do it a few times a week. i would definately factor in some rest, though, as like any other body part, they need time to grow and rebuild.
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2005/08/02, 07:40 PM
Bropie's right, believe it or not, you can overtrain your abs just as you can any other muscle. And just like any other muscle, abs need rest in order to heal as well. I would at least give them a days rest in between. Then again, I am a female, it might affect males differently.
Good luck:big_smile:
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Bettia.... The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
ravenbeauty@freetrainers.com
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2005/08/08, 08:21 AM
i do it every day, twice a day and i'm fine and u see improvment in about 2 weeks
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2005/08/08, 09:27 PM
I would think that if your using weights yes to take a days rest. I do know that you can work your abs every day, but with weights I am not sure. You would think you need to rest.
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Quoting from Nkredible:
Should i do crunches every day...or every other day? I do weighted crunches...about 5 sets of 30-40 with 15 pound weight plate. Just starting working on my abs...so im wondering if its possible to overtrain the ab area by doing them everyday..or should i do them every other day...allowing a day to rest?
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2005/08/09, 12:47 PM
the way i do it is... i do small sets but many sets between my other other sets.
example if i'm doing chest.. after i finish a set.. i do about 15 then i go back to my chest workout..then i do abs again.
this has worked for me so far..
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2005/08/09, 01:20 PM
Crunches every day??? No..
Ab work every day??? Maybe, but I wouldn't recommend it. You abs are no different then your biceps, and you wouldn't do curls every day. At least, I hope not.
Remember that your abs are fast twitch muscles, and that they respond best to weight. And variety.
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The best feeling in the world is the feeling you get after a tough set of squats after you step back from the power rack and throw up all over the floor.
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2005/08/26, 09:16 PM
wrestler, i would have to disagree to what you have said. I'm new here but I know a little bit about abs and from what i've heard, it is said that the abdomens and obliques are one of the fastest recovering muscles in our body. It seems that many fit and famous people like bruce lee, slyvester stalone.... and many others did crunches/situp twists/leg raises ever day and their routines were intense needless to say the least... http://www.allbrucelee.com/article/how_did_bruce_lee_get_those_wash.htm and it was working for them. Also before i started weight training, I had to speak to a doc.(since of was like 15 when i started) I asked him this same question and he told me, if ur doing any ab exercises without much resistance you can do em every other day.... and it has worked for me every since. but again... if ur looking for that six pack, this is not the way to go... the only way u gonna get that six pack is by lowering your body fat. (yes you are going to lose some muscle in the process but this is almost inevitable) Also remember for many of the excercises you do, you are using your abs to stabalize your spine and they usually get a really good workout too.
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2005/08/27, 01:43 AM
Disagree all you want. I respect that. But think about these things.
Bruce Lee took every weekend off, even if he was doing a movie. As for stallone, I don't know where you heard that. One thing you have to remember, these guys were genetic freaks.
As for getting a six pack, I have abs that all the "bodybuilders" usually tend to envy, and I work my abs 2X per week. 1 day rotational and side flexion, and 1 day trunk flexion. Whats more, they are functional, and serve my needs beautifully when throwing or working for a body lock or choke. Would I recommend my way of training to anyone? No.
As for lowering bodyfat, yes you are right, but that was not the question at hand.
You could do them every day, IF you were doing high rep, low resistance. In an essence, that would be the equivalent of endurance training. You would not build much muscle that way though. That would be like doing hundreds of push ups every day and expecting a large chest. It wouldn't work.
Your abs are just like any other muscle group. They are phasic muscle groups, comprised primarily of fast twitch muscle fibers. That means they respond best to low rep, high resistance stimulus, with rest.
As for your abs recovering faster, yes this is true, but NOT if you are working them properly. If you work your abs properly, you will need more than 24 hours to recover.
Would you do bicep curls every day and expect bigger more cut arms? No, at least I hope not.
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Your two most important minerals: Iron and Chalk.
If you smoke or don’t wear your seatbelt, please don’t tell me the deadlift is dangerous.
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2005/08/27, 01:47 AM
Also, just a note, but in your profile, it says you think you are at 9% bodyfat, and that you want to get down to 4%. Now, as someone that has starved themselves and watched their diet every day for 5 years in efforts to make weight, I must ask why you would want to do that? Do you realize how little that is?
And how did you arrive at 9% current bodyfat? Is that an eyeball figure?
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Your two most important minerals: Iron and Chalk.
If you smoke or don’t wear your seatbelt, please don’t tell me the deadlift is dangerous.
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2005/08/27, 06:32 AM
Wrestler is right. Rectus abdominus is at least 51% fast twitch, so if you want them to grow you have to hit the fast twitch fibres with weights.
Whats the point in doing low intensity every day when you can hit them hard one or twice a week?
I do crunches about every 2 weeks for 4 sets of 8 with a heavy dumbbell on my chest. Last time I did that I was sore for 3 days.
I also do reverse crunches and rotational movements on seperate days.
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2005/08/28, 02:56 PM
Bruce Lee did not do ab work every day. He did have an obsession with ab and forearm work, however wrestler is right he did take weekends off. Infact he usually only weight trained 3 days a week. Bruce knew what he was doing and spent alot of time studying body building. He got his abs from alot of rest, an excellent diet and ALOT of running.
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2005/08/28, 02:58 PM
I guess different things work for different people though...
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