Javelin

I'm getting more focused on working my abs, I'm doing usually 30 minutes on machines but I was curious to see if 3 days a week on abs is too much.

Tuesdays, I try go more heavy weights with around 10 reps a set for more strength training

then Thursdays, I do just a little lighter weights but around 20 reps a set for muscle endurance.

Saturdays, I do a little bit of both.

I'm pretty much doing the same exercises but different weights and reps.

All_In

I'm very interested in the responses you get here. I do abs every day, and never really bothered to think, "is that too much?"

You mentioned you do machines? I stopped doing the machines for abs altogether. I try a lot of inclined situps, leg lifts, situps on the core ball, and Russian twists (I'm not sure I got that name right. There's a thread on here with a member showing how they are done - they burn!).

The more I do, the more I realize that most of the definition I'm looking for is going to be related to the foods I eat...which is often difficult to do given that I'm also trying to put on mass.

__________________

Dempsey Roll

Your abs recover faster than the other muscles in your body, so it's generally fine to do abs every day.

__________________
"I don't want them to like me, because when I'm in the ring, punches fly to the face. It is not a tenderness time. I am not falling in love. And he knows that when the fight starts I am kicking faces."
- Wanderlei Silva

Cyclist

I sorta work my abs (full body actually) every day. I do full body exercises everyday in the mornings to kinda wake up the muscles.

I only hit my abs hard twice a week.

__________________

recon6991

I was told by a trainer that abs are made out of the same muscle tissue type as your calfs and jaw muscles are, they are tough muscles, you can work them often. He is a very reliable guy, but you may want to double check that!

__________________
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically.

jasvll

Not when doing weighted exercises like the thread starter is describing.

I would also give them more rest if you're doing MMA/grappling/kickboxing/etc., since you could easily tear something or throw your back out if your core is already worn out.

__________________

kamikaze145

It is true that your gastroc(one of your calf muscles) and abs recover faster than most muscles, but like Jasvll said I wouldnt do weighted exercises that many days a week.

southpaw447

I do work my core everyday. It's safe to and it's good for developing strength related to fighting. Keep in mind that having a six pack doesn't mean a strong core.

I refrain from using any machines that work out the abs. The only weighted Abdominal exercise I do is rope crunches with 130-145lbs

Core Exercises I do are

Crunches, Bicycle Crunches, Black Burns, Incline Sit Ups, Swiss Ball Crunches, Hitchhiker crunches.

Javelin

How long are your ab workouts usually?

southpaw447

I usually do them in a super set and I do them at the end of my workout if I'm at the gym. On days I can't make it into the gym I do them first thing in the morning when I wake up.

Normally the routine looks like this

100 Crunches with legs veritcal in the air
followed by

Bicycle Cruches (this can be a little complex to write but I'll do my best)
I start out by pedaling with my head off the floor and my hands out in front of me.

I do 30 crunches
then pause for ten seconds while still pedaling
then do 25 crunches
then 20
then 15
then 10
then 5

then after that

I do Blackburns with 2 5lbs plates for 30 seconds

then 50 swiss ball crunches or hitchhiker crunches, or incline sit ups (I switch it up some days)

then I do the rope crunches 30 reps (right side, straight down and left side to work the obliques)

I do 2 sets of that with 2 minute break in between.

It usually takes about 8-10 minutes per set