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Carpe Diem P.T
10-20-08, 7:05 pm
ok this topic frustrates the absolute shit out of me because i have no real quality answer on it.

Whenever i see someone doing abs at the gym they are doing around 50 - 100 reps per set.
Now when i see them doing bench press i dont see them doing 50 - 100. so whats the difference. If you want to build good abs you need to fail at either the 3 - 6 strength range or the 8 - 12 hypertrophy range right? which ever is your goal at the time.

all that i can see 50 doing is giving you the ability to sit up and lay back down 50 times very easily. muscular endurance.

whenever i run this by people they stare at me blankly like im from another planet.

what are your thoughts?

never_2_big
10-20-08, 10:56 pm
u know the answer to this bro! you just tell them...

"the abs are just another muscle group therefore should be trained like every other muscle group. if you want a six pack fix your diet and start your cardio. sit ups do not = six packs"

Cstlfx
10-20-08, 11:07 pm
I hit my abs once a week (although I'll do different sections on different days) but I hit them hard and heavy, lower rep scheme, in order to help out all my lifts.

I just laugh at the people doing hundreds of situps. If 50 aint helping, then neither will 100, nor will 200 work.

Its just a common misconception. People think working there abs brings out the six pack, they dont realize its the diet. Just like "spot treatment", doesnt exist.

I may do about 30 reps per section (upper, lower, and obliques) on different days, as to not wear them out.

IRN-NML
10-21-08, 10:25 am
Never cared for them & usually see too wide a range of motion; they're bending their back 50 times more than ab working. Better would be lie on the bench and feet up on the bar and do ab crunches with a much more limited range of motion.

My 1c

simpleguy
10-21-08, 12:03 pm
Never cared for them

x2


and Carpe, I hope you take this as a joke, but it seems that this isn't the only mistake from people in your gym:


http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=20874

http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=21001

http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=20764

WeeMan
10-21-08, 2:39 pm
i think people mostly just dont realise what they are doing.
but for those in the know, doing high reps will keep your abdomals tight without adding bulk to your waist.
training your abs in the 3-6 rep range will, like any other muscle, make them bigger. im sure none of us want bigger waists :)

Beast1
10-21-08, 4:17 pm
I agree with most. The only exception is that I hit abs 4 -5 days a week but I only do 3-4 sets no higher than 15 no less than 8. I also make sure to keep my abs tense the whole time or I don't feel like I'm getting what I need from them.

GJN5002
10-21-08, 4:24 pm
I feel like abs get thicker with weight and lower reps. I do higher rep range though not 100 is a set that crazy. I think calves also grow better with higher reps as well as bis and forearms. Just depends on the function of the muscle. When I say higher reps keep in mind i dont mean 50-100 for bis and forearms. But yes, I agree, do crunches till you puke you wont get abs until you diet down. I also think that nothing builds good abs better than squats and deads.

Carpe Diem P.T
10-21-08, 4:53 pm
x2


and Carpe, I hope you take this as a joke, but it seems that this isn't the only mistake from people in your gym:


http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=20874

http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=21001

http://forum.animalpak.com/showthread.php?t=20764

thats a bit of research there. lucky you got some spare time on your hands. the last one doesnt seem too relevant though. i probably watch about 300 people go about their business in a single week. you see things.