Your AB routine?

[Gib]

ok, I hate (HATE) training abs. DOing bodyweight stuff takes too many reps to keep me interested. Maybe its ADD, whatever, but I need new ideas for ab training.

Anyone have a killer workout that isnt like running a marathon? Im open to all ideas!

Thanks boys!

Gib

[Mr.Freeze]

in bed, its the best way lol

[Boost]

in bed, its the best way lol

LOL!

I have the same problem. I like using my 20lb ankle weights and weighted situps to cut down the reps and icrease the weight. If I do too many reps when training abs I seem to gradually run out of air. Abs is naturally the hardest muscle group to train while breathing properly.

Sorry I kind of rambled a bit.

[Mr Ontario]

I use this but I'm lazy ;)

[bigben]

Swiss ball. Do a crunch to the centre, then twisting to the left, centre, right, centre, left etc. Very efficient.

[champcar99]

I take special attention to this routine.. I make sure the beer is almost the temp of freezing..I order a large 5 topping meat pizza...polish them both off in 30 mins ,head straight to bed, no walking it off, no throwing a leg to your girl, just straight to sleep..the best ab routine going...do it for a month , you'll be thanking me....

[bigdaddydrew123]

deadlifts squats, standing presses. any heavy basic lift does the job

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Leg raises 15x3
Ab crunch machine 25x3
bar twists 15x3
Crunches holding a 10 pound weight 20x3

5 days per week.

[warlock]

Lay on a BOSU (or ball).

put a 80lb dumbbell on top of your chest

Crunch!

[Gib]

"deadlifts squats, standing presses. any heavy basic lift does the job"

Great for the posterior chain, but I actually feel like lately my abs have been holding me back in these lifts because i avoid training them.

[KLM]

"deadlifts squats, standing presses. any heavy basic lift does the job"

Great for the posterior chain, but I actually feel like lately my abs have been holding me back in these lifts because i avoid training them.

That's entirely possible. If you want to see your main lifts go up and your core is the weak link, then you need to consistently train it like any other weak link.

Yes it's true that heavy squats/DL's will strengthen your core, but doing accessory core work is often necessary and will prevent injury as well.

I despise core work too, but my PL coach makes me do it consistently and my squat/DL's/OHP have gone up accordingly.

[juggernaut]

some people will say to train ab's like any other muscle, once or twice per week, i respond better to hi reps style, 4-5 days a week, this is what my ab training looks like.

100 crunches straight, mix in some twists.

3 sets of cable crunches, 15-20 reps.

leg raises, 3 sets 15-20 reps.


a workout like that keeps the abs nice and tight ;)

[Sean]

Twice a week with weights! I always do them before my squats, works like no other. I do crunches with the weight and I put my legs just below the the bench (about 6 inches) and then raise them 6 inches above the bench for leg raises (with weight). Brings out the Abs as long as your diet is on par. NO WEIGHT for the Obliques..

[Demonwolf]

2x a wk is optimal for me. I use weighted exercises as well, not bodyweight.

[IronRobi]

once a week for me. I love weighted stuff. One of my favorites is with the medicine ball and a partner, on your way up for your crunch you toss the ball to him, and when you start heading back down he tosses it back to you. Another good one is using the rope attachment setup for pulldowns, get on your knees facing the stack and hold the rope behind your ears and do crunches down to the floor.

[gixxman]

I just do circuit of 4 excercises/3-4X with a minute in between each circuit. I really don't need weights but i do add some...here is one

Crunches with Legs UP 12-15
Oblique Machine (swivel one i don't know its tru name) 12-15/side (increase weight with each circuit)...to hit external oblique
Decline reverse Crunch 12-15
Cable Seated Crunch/or the machine that mimics this movement 12-15

repeat after 1-2 minute rest

[Gettin'r'round]

I'm still sore from doing 4x10 rollouts with my ab wheel. working back up to 15reps/set

[O-Train]

This is one area I notice where a lot of people have trouble. It's all about small effecient movements, TVA activation and knowing what direction your obliques run. It's really kinda hard to explain but I'll say that decline benches, side bends, roman chairs and ab machines are all very unnecessary. All you need is a floor, and a understanding of how the muscles work. Actually probably not even a floor. You could get a decent ab workout sitting at your computer.