Acceptable mentality: I only need to exercise abs when I'm leaning out?

[0o0o0o]

Is this acceptable or will your abs be lacking when you finally lean out..
lol ive been bulking for 3 years, not to high of bf, but I find my self rationing out of abs, to put on top of that I can see my abs.

 

[ericraven2003]

A strong core helps prevent injuries. I would do abs(core) no matter the time of the year.

 

[sadie]

A strong core helps prevent injuries. I would do abs(core) no matter the time of the year.

exactly....


besides.. most people (i said MOST) are on heavier muscle bulding cycles "off season" would that not be the best time to thicken up the abs if that was what you wanted? cutting makes no sense IMO.. everyone has a 6pack.. just depends on how much fat is covering it.. if you are leaning out.. theres less covering it so they would show without specific work

 

[g40graham]

IMO offseason do weighted abs every couple of days. Contest prep more specialized movements and on a more consistent basis

 

[Chrysler]

If I don't do abs consistently my stomach starts to look fucked up, and I don't get that fat either. Call it spot reduction or whatever, but doing abs even while I'm bulking makes my stomach look much better than the alternative.

 

[eroc613]

Don't train abs specifically, til the last four weeks. Now that they are at the size I want. I let all the heavy compound movements keep my abs up to par. And My abs (entire core) look thick and deep come show time.
But that's what works for me. I wouldn't think everybody gentics are the same.

 

[0o0o0o]

Don't train abs specifically, til the last four weeks. Now that they are at the size I want. I let all the heavy compound movements keep my abs up to par. And My abs (entire core) look thick and deep come show time.
But that's what works for me. I wouldn't think everybody gentics are the same.

thats my line of thinking, I no doubt have abs right now, they def aren't weak, I really never work in isolation, but squats and lot of compound lifts stress your core, my abs are getting worked just not in isolation

 

[ssdark1]

how many of you guys never train abs but have them? who has started training them and noticed a huge difference compared to when they never trained them?

 

[Ness]

how many of you guys never train abs but have them? who has started training them and noticed a huge difference compared to when they never trained them?

I never do abs, but I have a great set of them and they do show well. All my compound lifts hit them enough. When I have done abs (in the past) at the end of my w/o they let me know that Ive made a mistake 'cause they cramp like a mo-fo.

 

[ericraven2003]

how many of you guys never train abs but have them? who has started training them and noticed a huge difference compared to when they never trained them?

My abs had always been weak. I started doing true core exericse in combination with weighted ab exercise.I have had great results.

 

[Tom]

all year

weighted crunches for me year round

 

[Lenny]

Are you doing your compound movements?? If so, you are working your abs all year around...if is a mental thing do a couple sets of leg raises and weighted crunches a couple times per week!

 

[btech]

Ab work year-round will help support your bigger lifts (squat, deadlift) and make better gains.

 

[Thewhite9t]

How much of the "big guts" seen on professionals do you guys think is due to having oversized abs and obliques?

 

[Flex2019]

I train abs every day that I train-anywhere from 6 to 12 sets depending on how I feel. It has helped my abs tremendously in the last few months and I never feel like they aren't recovered enough day to day.

 

[eroc613]

I hate to say it....

but this must be a genetic thing. I didn't specifically train abs at all for my last contest. Aeilop saw them first hand. Maybe he'll comment.

 

[pesty4077]

but this must be a genetic thing. I didn't specifically train abs at all for my last contest. Aeilop saw them first hand. Maybe he'll comment.

I believe that to a certain extent. I train my abs like crazy, 3 times a week and barely noticible, even thouh I am leaner then anything with a small waist. Look at old pictures of Boyer Coe, great obliques, but hardly any front abs. That is me.

 

[bloodshed]

while my abs arent 100% visible right now(just started my cut last week) i dont train them directly, aside from the occasional planks or supermans, but ive noticed through heavy squats, deadlifts and similiar lifts mine are more developed then alot of people ive seen that train abs almost exclusively.

 

[IRON37]

to be honest I hate training abs more than doing cardio lol. I never bother doing them unless I plan on doing a contest or its summer and I know I'll be outside alot. I believe deads and squats took care of me otherwise

 

[maldorf]

My personal experience is that I built mine up a bit too much doing a lot of ab work and when I started up with Phil he had me not train abs at all. The waist shrunk down some and still looked just as tight. IMO if you do heavy compound lifts like squats, deads, bentover rows etc those will all build and tone the abs enough.