how long to workout abs
- Thread starter darine
- Start date
morningstar
Cathlete
What is your goal with your abs? Are you trying to build up core strength, or get a thinner stomach? If you are trying to get your tummy skinny, that has to be done by a calorie deficit (whether you reach that deficit by diet or exercise or both). You can't remove body fat from a particular area by exercise, you can only build muscle in that area. Abs can be worked a little more often than other muscles because they rebound quicker, but still need rest between workouts like any other muscle; it seems like you are doing that. More important than how long you work them, I think, is really engaging the abs when you are working them- really hitting that muscle group hard and not phoning it in.
darine
Cathlete
my stomach was never a problem for me in terms of fat. it's more my lower body. so it's really to have a cut in my abs. I watch what I eat. But I was wondering if people actually workout their abs 30 min or if it's not worth it.
I did that a few times and I felt as if my abs are more cut right after the workout and then the next day, they are back to normal. I am not sure if it's in my head but when I do an intense long ab workout I really see my abs more cut for that day! weird. So I am thinking of making it part of my program, not only when I feel like it.
But most of Cathe ab sessions are max 15 min. So I am wondering if more than 15 is not suggested and if any one of you do longer than 15.
I did that a few times and I felt as if my abs are more cut right after the workout and then the next day, they are back to normal. I am not sure if it's in my head but when I do an intense long ab workout I really see my abs more cut for that day! weird. So I am thinking of making it part of my program, not only when I feel like it.
But most of Cathe ab sessions are max 15 min. So I am wondering if more than 15 is not suggested and if any one of you do longer than 15.
Aquajock
Cathlete
I have personally experienced over time that I feel the work in the core earlier in the core routine, and if I go long long long in a core routine I stop feeling the workload after around 15 minutes or so, sort of like the "phoning it in" metaphor that Morningstar used. Thus, I've let go of the "a little is good a lot is better" motif. When working the core (which I do three times on land each week and once in the pool each week) I always do a prone plank-oriented set (either floor or stability ball) as well as supine work; I personally feel this hits all of the majors (the transversus during the plank work and the rectus abdominus and the internal / external obliques during the supine work). (I also do side planks on occasion as well if the routine calls for it.)
I've found that more frequent intense core routines with less duration work the best for me, and I'm fairly short-waisted.
A-Jock