How important are crunches?

[3rdCoast]

Im sure this issue has been addressed in other threads,in fact,i know for sure it has been touched on but i havent seen it directly asked,how important are crunches and leg lifts to developing a "lean" showing abs?

I know it depends on cardio and diet and in theory everyone has "abs" but you know what look i am talkin about,im just curious because about a year ago i did a cycle of test before the summer and ballooned to about 250lbs and gained lots of muscle and lots of fat but never did crunches and it showed. Since then,a few things have happened that caused me to drop weight in not the healthiest of ways, such as a loss of someone and lumbar back surgery in july that has me down to 175lbs(the lowest ever in my life,my usual steady weight is around 205 but i have held 175ish for about 2 months)Its my second week back with doctors clearance to lift things and my diet and cardio are the best i have ever had but i still dread crunches even tho i am suppose to do them to strengthen my core for my back.

So again i ask,do you really need crunches to get visible abs or if i continue to lift,run and eat good they will slowly show?Sorry if it sounds like a rookie question and a spew of words,im just curious.

thanks for any feedback

[Bouncer]

like you said, diet is the biggest factor in being able to see your abs.

that said, ab work such as crunches, leg lifts etc.. are important. just like any muscle, you want a strong developed abdomen.

[Mr I]

squats and deads also work you abs alot, along with tricep pushdowns

[Stonecold54]

just try not to do crunches, lol...pick a real exercise for abs....something with weight and something that will be intense.

[redsquirrel]

Also- a strong core and abdomen can help with back problems. Crunches on a ball w/ a 25lb weight or something are effective, as well as hanging leg raises, etc.

[NYCmitch25]

personally i feel hanging leg lifts have helped quite a bit on the abs and keeping my back healthy.

[Bouncer]

just try not to do crunches, lol...pick a real exercise for abs....something with weight and something that will be intense.

false. weighted ab work is never a good thing. use only the weight of your body when working abs.

[Stonecold54]

false. weighted ab work is never a good thing. use only the weight of your body when working abs.

lol....ummm okay....are we going on the false myth that people get blocky abs from to much weight...well its just like any other muscle if you are getting to big...THEN STOP WORKING THEM OUT, lol....muscle just doesn't pop up overnight and then we are like SHIT, where did my abs come from....and remember we are talking about normal people not bodybuilders who take in ridiculous amounts of food and volumizing drugs that falsely give us the impression that they "over stimulate" their abs. I have done weighted ab movements for years and I think they work just fine...but of course my experience can't imply anything for anyone else in this random world.

[Bouncer]

lol....ummm okay....are we going on the false myth that people get blocky abs from to much weight...well its just like any other muscle if you are getting to big...THEN STOP WORKING THEM OUT, lol....muscle just doesn't pop up overnight and then we are like SHIT, where did my abs come from....and remember we are talking about normal people not bodybuilders who take in ridiculous amounts of food and volumizing drugs that falsely give us the impression that they "over stimulate" their abs. I have done weighted ab movements for years and I think they work just fine...but of course my experience can't imply anything for anyone else in this random world.

weighted ab work gives an appearance of a blocky waste because it builds up other muscles such as the obliques etc..

body weight resistance work for the abdomen is all that is need. hanging legs raises, decline crunches etc..

i have done both and can tell you that my abdomen has "tighter" look to it doing only body weight resistance work compared to actual weighted work.

[Stonecold54]

weighted ab work gives an appearance of a blocky waste because it builds up other muscles such as the obliques etc..

body weight resistance work for the abdomen is all that is need. hanging legs raises, decline crunches etc..

i have done both and can tell you that my abdomen has "tighter" look to it doing only body weight resistance work compared to actual weighted work.

I still think you are assuming rapid amazing weight gain...if something is building that fast, then something is wrong and again I think if people recognized it early then they just need to stop. ..also I believe to many people don't know how to do ab exercises correctly.... when doing "Side" exercises they should be concentrating on the "side walls" not the obliques. I never contract my "Side" I always come at an angle where I feel the contraction just out side the main ab wall...not far over.

[Bouncer]

I still think you are assuming rapid amazing weight gain...if something is building that fast, then something is wrong and again I think if people recognized it early then they just need to stop. ..also I believe to many people don't know how to do ab exercises correctly.... when doing "Side" exercises they should be concentrating on the "side walls" not the obliques. I never contract my "Side" I always come at an angle where I feel the contraction just out side the main ab wall...not far over.

you can word it however you want. bottom line, the only "weight" needed is your own body resistance and gravity.

i speak from real word experience, not a book.... ZING! :D

[Stonecold54]

you can word it however you want. bottom line, the only "weight" needed is your own body resistance and gravity.

i speak from real word experience, not a book.... ZING! :D

where the fuck do I work out barnes and noble? I post my abs.....where are YOURS? ZANG :P

[Bouncer]

where the fuck do I work out barnes and noble?

that would be a step up for you.. at least you would be "working out". zam bam! :moon:

[Stonecold54]

that would be a step up for you.. at least you would be "working out". zam bam! :moon:

at least my books weigh more than those pussy pink weights you lift to match your pink tights you wear :)

[Nekrawulf]

Midline stabalization.

stability is what abs are good at.

abuse them.

leg lifts

L sits

L pulllups

Overhead squat (hell any quat)


STABALIIIIZE