Q: How often should I train my abs? A: The quest for the elusive six-pack often leaves guys hitting their midsection hard after every workout thinking more will inevitably be better. The truth is that your abdominals are just like any other muscle in your body. They need some rest in-between exercise bouts as well. Doing some crunches or planks at the end of every workout leaves your midsection in a constantly overworked state, preventing any results you’d like to see. To get results and prevent overtraining, focus on hitting your core two to three times a week post-workout. During those workouts, aim to include a variety of core exercises—not just crunches. Planks, cable woodchops, and abdominal rollouts are all good variations to include. Also, aim for the bulk of your program to consist of total-body exercises that are going to involve your core like front squats, deadlifts, and standing shoulder presses. When choosing sets and reps, also be sure to mimic your current training program. If the rest of your training is geared toward increasing maximal strength and power, then your core moves should focus on that as well (shifting to medicine ball throws versus woodchops for instance). As with other muscle groups, vary the exercises and intensity to constantly see results and avoid overtraining. When focused on definition, don’t forget about nutrition. The majority of changes in body composition are going to come from your diet. In fact, maintaining your normal diet but tossing in some abdominal work will likely have no effect on belly fat, according to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Hit your abs with a variety of exercises a few times a week, and use the rest of the time to improve your nutrition.
25 Best Lower Ab Workouts
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About the trainer: Jeremey DuVall Jeremey DuVall is a personal trainer based in Denver, CO. He received a Master’s degree in Human Performance from the University of Florida while specializing in strength training for endurance athletes. For more on Jeremey, check him out at JeremeyDuVall.com or on Twitter, @JeremeyD.
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Q: How often should I train my abs?
A: The quest for the elusive six-pack often leaves guys hitting their midsection hard after every workout thinking more will inevitably be better. The truth is that your abdominals are just like any other muscle in your body. They need some rest in-between exercise bouts as well. Doing some crunches or planks at the end of every workout leaves your midsection in a constantly overworked state, preventing any results you’d like to see.
To get results and prevent overtraining, focus on hitting your core two to three times a week post-workout. During those workouts, aim to include a variety of core exercises—not just crunches. Planks, cable woodchops, and abdominal rollouts are all good variations to include. Also, aim for the bulk of your program to consist of total-body exercises that are going to involve your core like front squats, deadlifts, and standing shoulder presses. When choosing sets and reps, also be sure to mimic your current training program. If the rest of your training is geared toward increasing maximal strength and power, then your core moves should focus on that as well (shifting to medicine ball throws versus woodchops for instance). As with other muscle groups, vary the exercises and intensity to constantly see results and avoid overtraining.
When focused on definition, don’t forget about nutrition. The majority of changes in body composition are going to come from your diet. In fact, maintaining your normal diet but tossing in some abdominal work will likely have no effect on belly fat, according to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Hit your abs with a variety of exercises a few times a week, and use the rest of the time to improve your nutrition.
25 Best Lower Ab Workouts
Read article
About the trainer: Jeremey DuVall
25 Best Lower Ab Workouts
Read article
25 Best Lower Ab Workouts
Jeremey DuVall is a personal trainer based in Denver, CO. He received a Master’s degree in Human Performance from the University of Florida while specializing in strength training for endurance athletes. For more on Jeremey, check him out at JeremeyDuVall.com or on Twitter, @JeremeyD.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
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