I was just wondering how many people work out abs directly and how many people skip this. I got to tell you, I just don't feel it. I'm pumped for every workout but when I get to the end to workout my abs I feel, ehhh. I need to read up on working out abs and see the research and the benefits, this might change my view on them.

I do core work, but not that much direct ab work these days. I'll probably phase some back in over time, but I think general core is more important than just abs.

I do very little direct ab work. However, I do other things that takes a good deal of "core strength" in order to brace or sustain. Besides just lifting heavy on big compound exercises, for example, I do standing lockouts, holding a barbell over my head at extension for at least 10 seconds at a time. The most I've held is a little over 1.5x bodyweight -- if my core wasn't strong, I'd buckle like a matchstick.

The most I've held is a little over 1.5x bodyweight.

That's pretty impressive Chic! :nod:

That's pretty impressive Chic! :nod:

Very.

I also don't do very much direct ab work - 2 sets of 12 every week to exact.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that I don't think direct ab work is bad, but I'd rather not have my abs grow.

I do none. I try to remember to do some vacuums before I go to sleep though. I gotta learn more core work...

I don't know, but when I started simple crunches, that's when my abs started to show :).

I'll do russian twists, spikes, crunches & leg raises 2-3x a week. Whether it's necessary or not, I don't know.

I dropped direct ab work in the summer and just concentrated on increasing my loads for squats/overhead pressing/chin ups. I don't think I've ever had abs as sore as after the first serious chin up session.

However, direct ab work is part of my current workout program. I did my first crunches in months this past week.

I don't do abs. If I lost some weight I might be tempted, to try to get that 6 pack. But no chance at the moment! The only abs work I do is when I do legs raises and sit ups in kick boxing.

I have probably done weighted sit ups about twice in the last year - both times in my instructors garage!

I had the same problem with not really feeling it after my abs workout. So I switched to mainly core workouts, I've created a variation of the plank that absolutely kills my entire midsection. A lot of the guys at the gym love it, some people can't even do it though. I'm not sure if it's documented elsewhere but so far nobody's told me they've seen it somewhere. Start off by getting in the plank position and I simply move my hips from side to side as far as i can without falling over. I just recently started doing them weighted and you can do it with one foot off the floor if you'd like as well. It's a simple change but it's made a big difference.

The only direct abs exercise that do is kneeling cable crunches. Main reason for that is for me, with every other exercise, there's a point in the movement where it's too difficult, and then a point where it's too easy so I never got the workout benefits. With the cable crunch it's a steady pressure of weight requiring your abs to be contracted through the entire movement.

The only direct abs exercise that do is kneeling cable crunches.

That looks like a nice one. I am adding that to the rotation. Thanks, bro!

I was in the same boat. I knew I should do it but, the motivation wasn't there at the end of the workout. I had to force myself to get it done. However, once I switched my ab work to the beginning of my workouts everything changed. I was motivated to do quality ab work and my entire workout sessions even felt better. I started out only doing a few sets and reps and as I began notice small changes in the abs area my motivation increased even more. It even positively affected my meal planning and decreased my craving for bad food choices.

Do train your abs everyone!

I had always neglected this so-called small part of working out, always believing that you had to reach a certain bf% before they even start to show. Well guess what, they won't ever come up unless you work them out regularly (2-3x a week should do).

I say this because over the last month, while spending the holidays in Malaysia, I did work out my abs 2-3x a week and my abs started to show. I got my bf% tested electronically (and for free), but then I know them scales and handle bars ain't that accurate... but with a reading of 6-7% (125lbs), well I know that if body fat was all that mattered, I should be ripped by now! But I'm not.

If you can do them properly, be sure to implement a bit of core training at the end of you sessions. Just don't overwork them, and I say at the end because that way you avoid gut aches/disturbances which you may get from partially digested pre-workout meals :P

I don't bother and when my bodyfat is 8.x I can see them anyway and they seem proportional. They get a lot of work from other things. I suppose I'd like to say I do them for "core strength", but I just don't see a real benefit. I think that in many cases, a weak muscle group is weak because it's not being used; i.e. does not need to be used. The body will generally strengthen what it needs to, though that theory conflicts with the fact that my lower back pain has gone away and I think much of that is becuase of diligent hyper-extensions.