Want Abs
Training the abdominal muscles has
recently been the
subject of more misinformation and mythology than any other part of the
human anatomy. Gizmos and gadgets allege that they'll give you those
coveted "six-pack" abs. But here's how
you can
rationally train your abs to their absolute maximum limit of
development using everyday gym equipment. There is nothing unique about
abdominal muscles as far as their training and response to training is
concerned. The principles that apply to biceps and triceps apply
equally to abs. So the three critical elements of your ab workouts are:
1- High-intensity of muscular overload
2- Progressive intensity from workout
to workout
3- Proper spacing of workouts to avoid
overtraining or undertraining
Most people do sit-ups or crunches as an ab exercise. While these are
basically good exercises that can satisfy point 1 above, how many
people use them in a way that satisfies point 2? Muscles will only
develop in response to overload that is above normal. So if you do 20
crunches every day for a year, why would your ab muscles develop beyond
that capacity? They won't.
To force new development, you need to increase the intensity. You could
add a few crunches every day, but that really just increases duration;
there is a better way to get fast results.
Abs exercises proven
to work
1-
Weighted crunches
2- Weighted incline sit-ups
3- Weighted sit-ups
The best way to do weighted crunches is to lie on the floor with your
head close to the low pulley weight stack. Using the rope handle
attachment, grasp the ends and pull the cable until it is tight and
your hands are resting at the side of your head near your ears. Now
contract your ab muscles in a crunch that lifts your shoulders off the
floor and draws the weight stack up an inch or two. Choose a weight
that is so heavy, you can only do 8 to 12 reps. If you don't have
access to a low pulley, there is a good alternative. You can use the
high pulley that is normally used for lat pulldowns. Kneel on the floor
or sit in the seat directly under the rope handles that you attach to
the high pulley. Lock your legs under the hold down. Pull the handles
into position next to your ears, then contract your ab muscles into a
crunch that raises the weight stack an inch or two. Again, choose a
weight that is so heavy, you can only do 8 to 12 reps.
As a further alternative, you can lie on the floor and do a sit-up or
crunch while holding a barbell plate against your chest. The limitation
of this exercise is that, as you progress in strength, it will not be
possible to hold enough plates on your chest safely. But that's a good
problem to have.
On each successive workout, shoot for a
5-15%
increase in the weight you use. If you can't get a 5% increase, it's
time to add more days off between your workouts.