The Official Workout Thread

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by FETCHER.

Yeah they are much easier to tone up and strengthen than abs, I dunno why lower abs are such bitches anyway but it is near impossible to work that area, which is probably why most people have a '6-pack'.

Well to get them to actually show, I think it's cos of body fat percentage, you would need to be sub 10% to be able to see the lower abs showing through and getting that low is very hard.

Moderator cut: image removed

They are a 'flatter' muscle if that makes sense, any fat at all is gonna cover them, whereas the abs have thicker ridges in between them. That's my take on it anyway

Weighted bicycles work great for me.

[Dr_Rez]

You are correct. As long as the muscle is there abs will only show if ur body fat is low enough. You could have the strongest abs on the planet but with to much body fat you will never see them.

[Dr_Rez]

Originally Posted by FETCHER.

There's really endless exercises out there for every muscle group, i dont know the names of most so you would probably be better lurking some sort of fitness forum, i imagine they would have diagrams haha. I personally would work my external obliques (the sides of your abs, gives the toned 'V' at the hips) if I was a guy. It's damn hot.

My self and many other guys are lucky with the V. I have a pretty defined V but have to much body fat for abs to show. Its ****ing hard to be large enough that you have lots of strength yet have low enough body fat to have abs show. Not to mention your diet needs to be pretty strict.

[Rjinn]

Originally Posted by TheBig3

Does anyone else hate Ab work as much as I do? Theres something miserable about being horizontal.

I feel like you can always do more - that theres no point where you can't do another crunch. I just hate it. I've tried doing Yoga poses for abs but its the same story.

Yes! Ab work is annoying in terms of crunches or weights. They're not very productive or it takes a long time. Boxing or combat however is great and helps just as much.

[Dr_Rez]

Originally Posted by Rjinn

Yes! Ab work is annoying in terms of crunches or weights. They're not very productive or it takes a long time. Boxing or combat however is great and helps just as much.

The best way is using the ab machines. Most have you sitting upright or leaning back against an upright post. These will be much better for abs in particular because they are isolating the muscle, not training your entire core.

[TheBig3]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

The best way is using the ab machines. Most have you sitting upright or leaning back against an upright post. These will be much better for abs in particular because they are isolating the muscle, not training your entire core.

The Ab machine is an abomination. The weird seat-hinge-thing never lines up, you always feel like you in a trash compactor. Its miserable. I use it, and I only focus on "is this working my core" but its still the most akward machine in the gym.

[FETCHER.]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

My self and many other guys are lucky with the V. I have a pretty defined V but have to much body fat for abs to show. Its ****ing hard to be large enough that you have lots of strength yet have low enough body fat to have abs show. Not to mention your diet needs to be pretty strict.

To really achieve anything substantial in the gym you really need to eat properly, without the right amount of protein the muscles cannot repair themselves. Yeah abs are bitches because you've got to find the perfect balance of size/body fat. Thank god I never need to worry much about them, I'm mainly working on legs just now because they're too skinny.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

You are correct. As long as the muscle is there abs will only show if ur body fat is low enough. You could have the strongest abs on the planet but with to much body fat you will never see them.

What I meant to say was the lower abs specifically require even lower fat percentage to show through as they are flatter, sorry. But yeah agree with you.

[Dr_Rez]

lol at @big3 hate towards the machine. Its not that bad once you get used to it. The one in my gym is upstairs in the corner so noone even sees you doing it!

Originally Posted by FETCHER.

To really achieve anything substantial in the gym you really need to eat properly, without the right amount of protein the muscles cannot repair themselves. Yeah abs are bitches because you've got to find the perfect balance of size/body fat. Thank god I never need to worry much about them, I'm mainly working on legs just now because they're too skinny.

I never realized how important diet was until I started eating better. Its still not great just better but I can already feel the difference day to day and am able to do more in general. Eating healthy is so tough since it has to be a 24.7 thing. You cant just go to the gym and work hard for 2 hours you have to be conscious of it all day every day.

[FETCHER.]

Yeah, it's all about eating a nice varied diet, my college suggested using a plate divider because then that way you are eating the right amount of carbs, fats, proteins and everything else in between. I personally don't use one. I just try and stay away from fizzy juice and foods that scream unhealthyness. I hate the abs machine too Brennan, although the ones here are designed a little different they're just as ****ing terrible. I feel lucky I can do most of my exercise through sport cause I really do hate most training, sport is fun and competitive, gym machines are stationary are boring.