When you work out you are breaking down the fibers in your muscles and they have to repair themselves so they can grow back stronger. That's why your muscles get bigger because they are adapting to the added stress you are putting them through by exercising. They need 48 hours to repair fully so just like your chest or biceps you should have at least a day of rest in between to allow your ab muscles to repair.
How often should you train your ABs?
Collapse
Recommended Videos
Collapse
X
-
Re: How often should you train your ABs?
When you work out you are breaking down the fibers in your muscles and they have to repair themselves so they can grow back stronger. That's why your muscles get bigger because they are adapting to the added stress you are putting them through by exercising. They need 48 hours to repair fully so just like your chest or biceps you should have at least a day of rest in between to allow your ab muscles to repair. -
Re: How often should you train your ABs?
They can't do that forever. Eventually their metabolism will change and they'll wonder why they can't eat Mickey D's everyday.
Comment
-
Re: How often should you train your ABs?
I am also 55 years old, 6'4" and have been doing the Horton P90 (not P90x) workout for about 50 days now. I started at about 242 pounds and am at 232 now.
The P90 starts at level 1/2 basically for couch potatoes, which I was for the most part for a few years. I have been athletic most of my life, bit when I hit my 40's and 50's, well..the incentive sort of went away.
Anyway, I did the level 1/2 for about 3 weeks and then switched to level 3/4. The level 3/4 is a bit more advanced, and you do more reps of basically the same things as level 1/2 but there are some new exercises thrown in too. It is a Cardio/abs workout one day, and a weight/sculpt workout the next and you are supposed to alternate as you go forward with one day off a week.
I have been doing the abs every day instead of every other day. At the end of the 90 day period, will I have ripped abs like they show on the dvd and tv? Nope...no way. But my weight is on the way down, my abs are tighter and my clothes fit alot better...and I still have about 40 days to go.
It works...because you are doing something every day. It doesn't matter so much what it is, as long as it is something. The Horton workout is good for me because it is quick (30-40 mins) and has stuff I can still do at 55. But the truth is you could be doing the Jane Fonda workout from the 70's or Sweating to the Oldies by Richard Simmons and probably get similar results. As long as you are doing something almost every day, are not eating fast food all the time, watching your calories intake, etc. you can get to your goals.
I'm not going to send in an "after" pic to beachbody because for some folks my after pic would look like their "before" pic. LOL. But it is working for me, I can stick with it, and I am happy with the results so far.
I am also a believer that genetics has a heck of alot more to do with it than adhering to a rigorous workout schedule. I wasn't ripped at 20, so I know I won't be at 55.
Hang in there and keep moving!
ChrisComment

Comment