Abdominal Strength???

[TooPowerful4u]

I have been lifting seriously as a bodybuilder for 3years now. In that time, my abs will NOT get a significant amount stronger. I have never been able to do more than 15 decline leg raises without my abs starting to die out and hip flexors taking over. Granted my bodyweight jumped 60lbs, so they got stronger to accomodate the weight, but they wont significantly improve. What can i do to really make them start growing? Do they NEED to be trained 4-5 days a week?

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by TooPowerful4u
I have been lifting seriously as a bodybuilder for 3years now. In that time, my abs will NOT get a significant amount stronger. I have never been able to do more than 15 decline leg raises without my abs starting to die out and hip flexors taking over. Granted my bodyweight jumped 60lbs, so they got stronger to accomodate the weight, but they wont significantly improve. What can i do to really make them start growing? Do they NEED to be trained 4-5 days a week?

thats because most of the movement IS the hip flexors. #1 no muscle needs to be worked out more than once a week or two weeks no matter what it is. If you aren't getting stronger either you are doing too much, not getting enough rest, doing the movement wrong or expecting the movement to do something it is not meant to be. In my opinion they are a crappy ab exercise because most of the movement is from your legs. you would be better off doing some leg holds a few inches off the ground for a set amount of time and then increase the weight by placing some plates on your legs and continuing to work your way up.

[meat12]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of leg lifts either, try some situps with a med ball