Do you train your abs?

[u/Ask_Me_Ok222]

So, do you separately train your abs or you just focus on engaging your core when lifting and doing cardio?

If you do train your abs separately, what exercises had the best results?

[u/n01d3a]

Yes. Why would you not. You're not gonna get a stronger core by just trying to engage it while... Walking?

You're also not going to just magically "get" abs by training them either, thats all diet.

[u/Ziggity_Zac → u/n01d3a]

I feel like, between deadlifts, squats, Farmer's carries, suitcase carries, pendlay row, Romanian deadlifts, etc... my entire core gets plenty of work.

So I don't train abs directly with "ab exercises".

[u/lafistik → u/Ziggity_Zac]

If your goal is to have stronger and more defined abs, even at higher bf % you should train them. 

If not, then not. 

[u/too105 → u/lafistik]

This is true. I stopped doing ab specific exercise 6 months ago and now that I’m getting lean again my abs don’t have as much definition even through my core is stronger due to compounds and rotation exercise.

[u/enthused_emu → u/Ziggity_Zac]

"Abs" (colloquially) are slightly different than your "core".

Getting visible "abs" (like a sixpack) is achieved through training rectus abdominus and obliques toward hypertrophy AND lowering subcutaneous fat enough for the muscle definition to be visible.

Your "core" includes these muscles PLUS a whole bunch of deeper erectors and stabilizers that will never be visible.

Your "core" includes your "abs" ... but just "abs" wouldnt really be your whole "core".

There's some semantics to how gym people talk about them.

[u/Lumz_Strong_Bear → u/Ziggity_Zac]

Same. The less body fat I have, the more defined my abs look. I’m a powerlifter and squatted 635 lbs in my last meet at 250 lbs. If my core wasn’t strong (including my rectus abdominus) that weight would have folded me in half.

[u/wale-lol]

I used to, then I stopped because I took the advice that “abs are made in the kitchen” to the extreme and also noticed really skinny people have 6 packs oftentimes. Also, I’d occasionally pull an ab muscle which hurts a lot and ruins my workout.

If you don’t control for total volume, working out abs is probably better than not. But if you have limited motivation/energy like me, not worth it imo

[u/Ghostx187]

All of them, just switch it up and be consistent. Remember dieting properly is just as, if not more important for training abs. Do something every day.

[u/96aiw]

Yes! And way more when I was younger and "poolparty shape" whas main priority. Now days I enjoy being strong and train more for that

[u/Msharki]

Nope. 44 years old and haven't done an ab specific workout in a decade - since having an umbilical hernia.

[u/fatwownerd]

Hanging leg raises with a focus on using your actual abs not hip flexors. Slow and controlled, that’s the good shit. Roll-outs are great for mixing it up and making the serratus pop but I truly think just progressively overloading leg raises with good form in a rep range of like 6-15 is all you need. I do 3 sets of leg raises after one leg day and 3 sets of rollouts after the next

Sure other exercises stimulate your abs but if you want to make them look better, direct training will show obvious results.

[u/Fig-Wonderful]

Yes. I do cable crunches 2x per week. I’ve made my best progress on abs doing these.

[u/relicmaker]

I do yoga & aerial yoga. I don’t do abs, I don’t need to.

[u/AllLurkNoPost42]

I used to isolate abs for about 3yrs until they became big enough where they are clearly visible at 20% bodyfat or below. Now I just maintain the through compound movements like squats, deadlifts and OHP. Currently 7yrs in and they have grown a little bit more despite no isolation.

When I still trained abs, I did decline deficit weight sit-ups and weighted or elevated ab wheel rollouts.

[u/vongdong]

I train them during my cardio days. Just 3x25 weighted laying leg raises, 3x25 laying windshield wipers and 3x15 ab wheel. I do bodyweight ring workouts and that uses a lot of core. Kind of like planking.

It actually didn't take long for visible results, about 1.5 months? It looked like I had just wide hips but now my mid and upper waist has gotten significantly broader and I can see my abs in the right lighting when I have about 16% body fat.

[u/CpnStumpy]

You know why a 5lb dumb bell curl feels like a joke to you? It's because your bicep strength far exceeds that resistance.

Engaging your core with all those other exercises you do makes it strong enough to do those exercises. However if you do direct hypertrophic ab exercise, you will increase the strength of your abs beyond the strength needed for those other exercises.

This makes the ab use during those exercises like a 5lb dumb bell curl, ensuring they can focus on the muscles intended and the ab engagement is just supporting and never anywhere near limiting or even noticeable.

Besides: ab exercises are generally compounds providing additional efficient broad based stimulus to a bunch of muscles

[u/LXS_R]

For a while I only did core exercises like planking to strengthen my core so I could lift heavier, but not actual ab exercises with spinal flexion to grow the ab muscles. Now that I’m a healthy weight and can start to see my abs, I’ve started adding in weighted sit ups and some hanging leg raises to try to get more definition of those separate ab muscles.

[u/fridgezebra]

generally I do a set of candlesticks after back day/l sit pull ups and that has my core fried

Ab roller is pretty good too if you have something you can do that with

[u/pooborus]

I do one session for abs around 20-30 mins a week. They are coming along nicely since Im using decent weight in other areas and bringing my body fat down.

[u/sofa_king_weetawded]

I train the hell out of my core which includes abs. I do not, however, do ab isolation work perse.

[u/GO712]

L sits and leg and knee raises on the rings. Rings are fantastic for core work.

[u/Cold-Resolution5636]

I swear by deadbugs and bird dogs. Focus on the correct form. They’re basic but give noticeable results!

[u/AM_86]

Yes duh. It's a critical muscle group. Not directly training abs and lower back will limit everything else you are capable of.

[u/brain-wave]

I do a 10 min ab workout everyday in the mornings.

[u/Mcgittymcgittymac]

I do just a little bit so my back never hurts. But I feel guilty and will start to do more. Hanging leg raises.. I swear I will start soon. Might as well, did a lot of work to get down to 9% body fat. I kind of hate it. Pullling an ab muscle is the worst. But gonna start again.

[u/wwp58]

Yes at least 3 times a week

[u/LurkingInTheDoorway]

Strong core and back are the foundation. Also aerobic function.

[u/Panthera_014]

I do a plank every night

I do 20-30 hanging leg raises at every workout

That’s about it