Dedicated to Your Physical Transformation
You’ve no doubt heard that “abs are made in the kitchen.” In other words, it’s diet and low body fat that produces delineated abs.
That’s true to a degree—you can’t see your abs with a blanket of fat; however, you also need to develop the muscle if you want it to “pop.” [Read more…]
Q: I’ve studied your top ideal-exercise factors in Old Man, Young Muscle. To me it seems like hanging leg raises for abs would check most of the boxes, equal to dumbbell curls for biceps. Both have good resistance at stretch and the legs move the same way as the forearms on dumbbell curls. Why do you not recommend hanging leg raises, but you do like dumbbell curls as an ideal exercise? [Read more…]
My go-to ab-etching ideal move is the crunch—but on an incline. No, not with my head at the lower end, but at the top—like this… [Read more…]
Q: You never mention hanging leg raises to work abs. Why not? I really feel a good burn from those. [Read more…]
So my oldest daughter gave the incline crunch a try, but she had some problems… [Read more…]
My oldest daughter brought over my new grandchild. She’s eight months, and my daughter is still trying to get her pre-pregnancy body back… [Read more…]
For years I’ve been doing crunches on a flat bench with my upper back hanging off the end. That provides some stretch.
But my most recent ab workouts have gotten an overhaul thanks to Mr. America and 2019 Drug-Free Mr. Universe Doug Brignole. He won that last contest at age 59… [Read more…]
Q: I just started the Size Surge program. I love it and can already see results! I just had a question about abs. In the this program, you have only one day for abdominal work. Is that really enough to get great washboard abs? Can I add some ab training to other days or maybe the off days?
A: You can add some ab work if you like, but keep in mind that your abs are getting a lot of work supporting your torso on all the big exercises you’re doing on Monday and Friday—from presses to upright rows to squats. Notice how Jonathan has washboard abs in this photo as he does dumbbell shrugs, showing that they’re almost always working to some degree… [Read more…]
Q: You guys often use weight for ab work, but I don’t want to build up my abs because I don’t want a big muscular belly. Shouldn’t I do high reps to keep the muscle toned rather than growing? I want maximum abs from a detail standpoint, not size!
A: Your fear is a common misconception that can prevent fast, dramatic etched abs. The rectus abdominis is a long flat muscle. It CANNOT attain a lot of bulbous mass no matter how much weight you use and how hard you train it.
(Note: The protruding bellies you see on some pro bodybuilders are caused by drug use that bloats their internal organs.)… [Read more…]
Q: I’ve noticed that you guys don’t recommend hanging leg raises for abs, but you do include incline leg raises in your routines. Why? Aren’t they pretty much the same exercise?
A: We discuss the difference in the X-traordinary Abs e-book, calling them “kneeups.” The inferiority of hanging has to do with optimal fiber activation…
[Read more…]
