Are situps enough for good abs?

[ShayneBishop]

I did a search but I couldnt quite find what I was looking for and I was curious to know if situps were enough for good abs?OR what is a good ab workout? Someone once told me if it makes u feel like your getting stabbed in the stomach hold it until u cant take it anymore then do it 20 more times. I know tht when i was in shape at the gym i would lay with my back down and knees up then hold myself 6in up. My trainer said to do that, it made a little burn but i didnt see much of a change....Thanx

 

[prophet]

crunches>situps.. IMO.. best way to reveal those abs is to do some cardio and have a good diet

 

[ZECH]

Yep diet is the key! You can do a million sit ups and it won't matter if you don't watch your diet!

 

[J'Bo]

i agree with DG. diet is key!
best exercises to develop those abs once you can see them are: weighted crunches or declines IMO.
best cardio to help show those abs is skipping rope

 

[Deeznuts]

I've got the pretty much ideal abs and didnt get them from doing 1,000 situps a night. Your abs are like any other muscle in your body. People with 'beer bellies' have abs as well - you just can't see them Burning fat is the key - so yes, diet and cardio are the keys to washboard abs. Don't completely throw away situps, and other ab excercises. these are necessary as well. Try doing situps that have a full range of motion so you can work all of your abs. I never do crunches because they focus on just your upper abs. Doing excercises weighted seems to help as well if you already have strong abs.

 

[BabsieGirl]

Originally posted by J'Bo
i agree with DG. diet is key!
best exercises to develop those abs once you can see them are: weighted crunches or declines IMO.
best cardio to help show those abs is skipping rope

 

[J'Bo]

Originally posted by Deeznuts
I've got the pretty much ideal abs and didnt get them from doing 1,000 situps a night. Your abs are like any other muscle in your body. People with 'beer bellies' have abs as well - you just can't see them Burning fat is the key - so yes, diet and cardio are the keys to washboard abs. Don't completely throw away situps, and other ab excercises. these are necessary as well. Try doing situps that have a full range of motion so you can work all of your abs. I never do crunches because they focus on just your upper abs. Doing excercises weighted seems to help as well if you already have strong abs.

So where are the pics?

Also we should really mention that genetics play a HUGE roll in having great abs.

 

[Triple Threat]

Originally posted by J'Bo
genetics play a HUGE roll in having great abs.

Nice play on words!

 

[Arnold]

here are 3 articles on abs from www.ironmagazine.com

http://www.ironmagazine.com/article42.html

http://www.ironmagazine.com/article12.html

http://www.ironmagazine.com/article59.html

 

[Deeznuts]

J'Bo - very true. I was like a stick before I started working out. Aside from abs this turned out to be a great disadvantage.

 

[flexster]

From what I have read from several articles here are the best two exercises for the abs:

1. Bicycle Maneuver. Lie flat and press your lower back to the floor. With hands beside head, bring your knees to 45-degree angle & begin a pedal motion by touching opposite elbow to opposite knee, alternating each side.

2. Captain's Chair. Stand on chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body. Press your back against the pad and slowly lift knees towards your chest. Don't arch the back! Click here for picture.

Personally, I like the captain's chair, it really works the lower abs where most of us guys collect fat.

 

[BabsieGirl]

Rankings of All Exercises for Rectus Abdominis

Bicycle Maneuver
Captain's Chair
Exercise Ball
Vertical Leg Crunch
Torso Track
Long-Arm Crunch
Reverse Crunch
Crunch with Heel Push
Ab Roller
Plank
Traditional Crunch
Exercise Tubing Pull
Ab Rocker


Rankings of All Exercises for Obliques

Captain's Chair
Bicycle Maneuver
Reverse Crunch
Plank
Vertical Leg Crunch
Exercise Ball
Torso Track
Crunch with Heel Push
Long-Arm Crunch
Ab Roller
Traditional Crunch
Exercise Tubing Pull
Ab Rocker


GO HERE: exercise.about.com/library/blabstudyranking.htm

 

[J'Bo]

Originally posted by CaptainDeadlift
Nice play on words!

Thanks

 

[JLB001]

I usually just do crunches on the floor. Pretty basic stuff, but then good abs were something I was blessed with, just wish I was blessed with the good legs too! I got the crap for gentics in the leg dept.

 

[Rocco32]

I'd like to start doing just decline full range sit-ups.

 

[J'Bo]

JLB...you cant win them all...i have the same jeans....i mean genes

Rock...i only do declines and they are GREAT...they rip the heck outta those babies...try doing declines with a 25lb plate

 

[BabsieGirl]

and if that is too easy take a 10lb plate and hold it behind your head.

The 25's are easy for me. I found the 10's to be a little tougher behind the head.

 

[Rocco32]

I think I'll have enough of a challenge just doing myself right now. (did I really just say "do myself"?)

 

[BabsieGirl]

 

[plouffe]

Through some swiss ball exercises in your abdominal routine.... works really well.

 

[J'Bo]

although you need alot of resistance to build those plates up

 

[Premo55]

Abs actually have very, very little to do with training...I took a hiatus from abdominal training for about two months and noticed little change in definition in my midsection...core strength is however very underrated, and improving core strength will lead to much larger lifts, particularly in the deadlift and squat! The best ab exercises, I feel, are the dragon flag and weighted rope crunches. For obliques, twisting weighted rope crunches are probably the best movement you can do. Personally I do 4 sets of 6 for each, applying appropriate resistance. Abs are like any other muscle, they require resistance in order to stimulate growth....

Peace.

 

[P-funk]

seeing your abs is one thing. This is going to come form diet. COnditioning your abs however is another and I think it is something that most people neglect. Abdominal/lower back trianing is very important and is going to make a big difference in all of your other lifts, particularly squats, deadlifts and standing overhead barbell presses. Make sure you train your abs so that they can handle large amounts of weight so that you can go heavier on all of your lifts. Don't simply live by the saying "great abs are made in the kitchen, not in the weight room."

 

[KiDNotorious]

can anyone give me a link to these exercises with pics? i cant seem to find them

thanks in advance

 

[KiDNotorious]

dont mind that message.....>_> <_<

 

[Deeznuts]

If that was sarcasm you can find the pics and descriptions at www.bodybuilding.com

Sorry for the long delay - I never saw your post.

 

[QuestionGuy]

diet diet diet diet, white chicken broccoli, god damn im so sick of it, by the way, im at 15 % right now and my abs are startiong to form,

 

[QuestionGuy]

if anyone cares that is

 

[BabsieGirl]

http://www.ironmagazine.com/burnfat


Good learning! Read it!!!!!!

 

[QuestionGuy]

hey BG, is this book really good or is this one of those things like on late night tv when they promise you the bombs but you get some shit that doesnt give you anything..... be honest please because i dont have the money to throw around, i will buy it if it is acctually gona teach me something new....and i do need all the help i can get on cutting...........