heavy lifts for core vs. ab specific exercises

RMorrison · Post by **RMorrison** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:19 am

This is first day on the boards. I am seeing some info that is surprising to me. I am shocked that heavy compound lifts could work abs better than ab exercises (especially since abs are sore after an ab routine and not after a legs routine)

I am not doubting, but I would be very interested if anyone has a link to some literature on this.

HOUSTON TEXAN · Post by **HOUSTON TEXAN** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:36 am

Abs are built off of a low % so in order to lower it you have to work the biggest muscles in the body the legs and the back. Abs are used in deadlifts and squats because they stabilize the weight. I do some ab work but barely any.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:58 pm

the abs work harder to stabilise the spine than they do to flex it...alwyn cosgrove wrote about it somewhere, sometime...

if you train any muscle with various exercises all i a row of cousre they'll be sore but it doesn't mean they'll get big and strong

if your legs don't get sore than get off the leg extension machine, load up a barbell on the floor and pick it up a lot of times

Christopheel · Post by **Christopheel** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:24 pm

Like Swanso said long time ago,

If i punch you on the arm you'll be sore but you won't grow.

dys · Post by **dys** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:42 pm

this just doesn't make sense though, that's like saying curls don't help your biceps right?

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:48 am

that is absolutely correct right there, what you said then

dys · Post by **dys** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:42 pm

i dont get it, how come people see results from crunches/curls though?

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:01 pm

it comes from other things there doing - food, training etc

Christopheel · Post by **Christopheel** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:41 am

dys wrote:i dont get it, how come people see results from crunches/curls though?

lol, one year of curl and crunchs doesn't equal 2 months of squatting and deadlifting.

vamp · Post by **vamp** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:34 pm

if you feel nothing in the abs when doing your workouts, you not working right or hard enough.

Deads, Squats, Bench Press, Rows, Chin-ups....

Okay, if it has the word extension or curl or crunch in the name of an excercise don't do it. If it has the words as I listed above in them then do them.

read diet and nutrition forum sticky "read this before posting", you will learn valuable information there.

Your abs are already there, you must find them by decreasing everything that is blocking them from being viewed.

Cheers