Crunches, how many?

[Funksoldier]

On avg, post how many you do, and if you reccommend a different exercise besides just regular crunches, post that too

 

[Thompson]

Ive been told that 4 sets of 15-25 crunches is enough for upper ab development, but you got to remember that youve got upper, and lower abs, and for overall development you need to do something like leg lifts, or hanging reverse crunches, in addition to your normal crunches. hope that makes sense...

 

[Funksoldier]

Makes sense to me

Thanks for the reply

 

[Vennom96]

I usually dont do just regular crunches. I do abs once a week: I start off w/ 2-3 sets of leg raises for my lower abs (15 reps each set). Then I'll do either 3 sets on the ab machine or a variation of (I think Needsizes ab routine) but anyway I'll sit on the decline bench w/ a 45 lber on my chest and do pause reps, going down at a different angle/degree each time. Then I'll do 2 sets of side raises for my obliques.

 

[pullinbig]

ahhh..... you ab is one large muscle. you cannot work the top without working the bottom

 

[thorsky]

I do deads, squats and standing military press. No direct ab work right now. Seems to work as I can see my top two rows through 18% BF.

 

[rjx]

I do 30 leg/knee raises immediately followed by 30 crunches on a declined bench. I do this for 2-3 sets per workout.

 

[Thompson]

you are absolutley right pullingbig, the rectus abdominis is only comprised of one muscle group. what I was trying to say is that by working the lower portion of the abs, you get a more developed look. much the same way as preacher curls affect the lower portion of the bicep, thus giving the bicep a more developed look. thanks for seeing my mistake pullingbig

 

[pullinbig]

i am here for ya bro. lolololol

 

[Bast]

cabel crunches..
ad some weight man or they wont get big!

 

[Thompson]

bast, while i agree cable crunches are good, i dont see how your abs can get any bigger. I might be wrong(wouldnt be the first time) but i was under the impresion that your abs are geneticaly pre-determined a certain size and shape, and that they wont get any bigger by adding weight, just more defined. please correct me if im wrong.

 

[DADAWG]

bast, while i agree cable crunches are good, i dont see how your abs can get any bigger. I might be wrong(wouldnt be the first time) but i was under the impresion that your abs are geneticaly pre-determined a certain size and shape, and that they wont get any bigger by adding weight, just more defined. please correct me if im wrong.

dropping body fat will define the abs . abs are a muscle and can grow

 

[pullinbig]

i can attest to to abs, or the overall core area growing. as a matter of fact i got some distentia working from all the heavy core movements which include eating alot. loloolol seriously just walking around at three hundred will strengthen you core. if you dont believe me strap on some weight around your shoulders and wear it for a couple of years. lololol

hell look at ronnie coleman. he does alot of core work and it shows, from top to bottom.

 

[cman81]

try this quick routine.

inlcine leg raises x20
decline crunches x20
jackknives x20
bridge 1min

take a rest then repeat, I do this ab routine twice a week, my abs are ripped. I still can't breathe when i am finished.

 

[Funksoldier]

jackknives and bridge...

explain?

 

[killa_bee]

i do only squats and deads for my abs...and works great...

 

[Thompson]

jackknives= bring your legs and your uper body togther at the same time, forming a V.

bridge= get in a push up position. back straight and feet together, but instead of resting your uper body on your palms, rest on your forearms. hold this position for the 1 min or so.

hope that makes sense.

 

[Injectyourspinach]

I don't like regular crunches. They're not that intense nor is there any real coordination-developing aspect to them. The abs and obliques come into play as stabilizers in any Squat, Deadlift or Olympic lift variation as well as Chin-ups/Pullups, and standing Overhead Presses. I lean on those movements as my primary ab stimulation and view the direct ab work via weighted Janda Sit-ups or weighted Small-Ball Crunches as secondary.

 

[Popichulo]

I do needsizes 5X5 ab routine

 

[Gandalfnet]

I used to do a ton of crunches and 100 situps but I have found my abs devlope much faster using weight. I do 10-15 x4 situps now with weight on my chest or the machine. But after reading some of the other post I have found it is important to work the lower with legs raises etc. I think the other guys here are right, you need to work abs with weight just like all your other muscles and it is not the amount of crunches that you do.