need an ab work out

I just did that ab workout and it hurt like a MOTHER. Has anyone else tried it?

1500m Runner wrote:

I just did that ab workout and it hurt like a MOTHER. Has anyone else tried it?

No, most of the people here on LetsRun know that when Flagpole Willy gives advice, it is best to do the OPPOSITE.

So in this case, the opposite would be:

NO CRUNCHES.

When you say "it hurt like a MOTHER," were you referring to your neck?

My abs smoke FW's, and have done a crunch in a decade.

(Ok, I'll stop giving FW crap for a second and say: he was RIGHT (stop the presses!) on the cardio/diet comments. To achieve ripped abs, those 2 things(cardio most important, diet second) come first. Ab exercises come 3rd. But I think crunches suck)

Well then, what is your advice Mr. Abs? I would be glad to hear an alternative, but what else can you do besides crunches? Actually my neck felt just fine and it felt like a good ab workout, it was just painful.

1500m Runner wrote:

Well then, what is your advice Mr. Abs? I would be glad to hear an alternative, but what else can you do besides crunches? Actually my neck felt just fine and it felt like a good ab workout, it was just painful.

Ahhhhh...yes, you are on your way to great-looking abs if you keep this up.

Remember that diet and cardio work are MORE important. Also remember to just do that ab workout 3 times a week MAX as you are getting to where you want to be, and then 2 times a week will maintain. Don't do more than the 200 total crunches even when they start to feel easy to do. Also, pay constant attention to form and to how your back and neck feel. You should NOT be straining your back or neck at all if you do these exercises the right way. Also, don't do anything silly like add weights to your ab workout. What you're doing is plenty enough.

- Flagpole Willy

I don't get the frog crunches either...

ask the guy on your team with the best abs what he does

Flagpole Willy had some great advice a while back on this. I had that thread bookmarked, but when I got a new computer I lost it.

I will try to find the thread and bump it or post a link here to it. It was good advice, maybe he can post here and tell us again.

I tried this ab workout and I felt like I really got a great workout from it. Thanks for posting! I will continue to do it 3 times a week from now on. I just need to get my diet a little better....Does this mean I should throw out my chips and late night cookies and milk? haha

"Ab work works best after CARDIO work - don't do ab work on the days you LIFT."

I thought (when properly trained) abs could be worked out every 24 hours. Why no abs on lift days?

MikeinOtown wrote:

"Ab work works best after CARDIO work - don't do ab work on the days you LIFT."

I thought (when properly trained) abs could be worked out every 24 hours. Why no abs on lift days?

1) Law of diminishing returns says that there's no need to work the abs more than 3 times a week. If you're thin and you do the ab work I laid out, you'll have ripped abs in just a few short weeks. I'm too fat, so it takes me a good 12 weeks of focus on weight loss and other exercise to get the abs, but if I were thinner, just a few weeks would do it.

2) When you lift you are already engaging the abs. Giv ethem a break. Do them on cardio days.

Thanks. This was very helpful.