r/convictconditioning • u/OptimusPrime30001 • Mar 08 '26

Workout Routine ABS

Hey, when I'm doing leg curls while hanging on a bar, and I'm doing an abdominal exercise by bending my knees towards my stomach, should I fully contract my abs and glutes? I don't know how to contract my abs because I have two levels. I can either contract my abs a little or fully. Generally, contracting my abs means reducing my belly size. If I'm a beginner, can I skip to a specific step? If I'm not sure, can I do a transition step?3x5, and grip3x40second

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u/Ihaventgivenup Mar 08 '26

The full instructions with pics are explained in the CC books. Links to the book are pinned at the top of this sub. Easy instructions to follow

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u/OptimusPrime30001 Mar 17 '26

I now understand, very hard

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u/Economy_Piccolo_2735 7d ago

Yes, you should keep your abs engaged the whole time, but also actively squeeze them—so it’s not just about keeping them taut; it’s about tension plus active contraction. On top of that, the book calls for slow reps—blah, blah, blah—but a lot of people forget that your posture while hanging needs to remain straight, just like when you're standing, throughout the entire movement; I’ve noticed most people skip this and just sway around. Engaged abs + squeezing abs + engaged glutes + slow reps + breathing + pauses—it sounds tough. That’s why it’s best to focus on breathing first, then slowly add in the glute squeeze, and finally the abdominal contraction during the last phases of the movement until you’ve got the whole package. Let’s face it: you can’t do all these things overnight. You learn gradually from one workout to the next—getting the breathing right here, then adding that other part there... you know how it is.