Thread: Abs???

the ab wheel is tough.

Yeah ive got one, and use it. It is tough but it gets easy - fast. But still lights my abs up. I love it.

What a horrible exercise. I feel it uses other muscles too much and your abs not enough. And if you are going to work other muscles while working your abs, why don't you do it while doing a REAL exercise like deadlifts, squats, pullups, etc that will kill your abs indirectly?

Originally Posted by MWpro

What a horrible exercise. I feel it uses other muscles too much and your abs not enough. And if you are going to work other muscles while working your abs, why don't you do it while doing a REAL exercise like deadlifts, squats, pullups, etc that will kill your abs indirectly?

This statement is contradictory. You don't like the ab wheel because it works too many muscles at the same time, yet you suggest doing other exercises that work a bunch of other muscles at the same time.

With that said, I like the ab wheel. Do them standing up when kneeling becomes too easy. It's a great way to impose heavy loads on your core musculature. It forces you into a plank position so that you are using your abs as a trunk stabilizer and spinal flexor in the same movement.

Abs are like any other muscle group. They need to recover to grow. Give them at least 24-48 hours to rest, repair and grow from your ab workouts. Also, always make sure to mix up your ab training workouts and hit the area from different angles to maximize the intensity.

Here are some great abs routines and workouts to keep your training new and exciting:

Abs Muscle Workouts - Strength Exercise Routines

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by CowPimp

This statement is contradictory. You don't like the ab wheel because it works too many muscles at the same time, yet you suggest doing other exercises that work a bunch of other muscles at the same time.

Originally Posted by MWpro

What a horrible exercise. I feel it uses other muscles too much and your abs not enough. And if you are going to work other muscles while working your abs, why don't you do it while doing a REAL exercise like deadlifts, squats, pullups, etc that will kill your abs indirectly?

Real as in more useful, for other purposes.

Originally Posted by MWpro

Real as in more useful, for other purposes.

I think exercises that require you to do plank type movements are extremely useful. A lot of people don't even know how to properly stabilize themselves during those big compound movements. This type of activity can not only help teach that, but allow you to overload your core musculature more effectively because your prime movers generally fatigue first in movements like a squat.

If I were to choose an ab exercise I would choose a plank or possibly holding legs at 6 inches. Tough, functional, and efficient. The ab wheel is tough, though.

either the planks or bird dogs are my fav's. Reverse crunches or things that work the obliques (rotary strength) are good too. various chops and cable PNF movements, etc.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

If I were to choose an ab exercise I would choose a plank or possibly holding legs at 6 inches. Tough, functional, and efficient. The ab wheel is tough, though.

I usually incorperate that aswell as some crunches and the ab wheel into an ab workout. But yea i find the ab wheel works the lower back aswell, but that is not a bad thing.