Abs/core - how many times per week?

[Shaz]

I find that when I haven't worked abs/core for a while (eg 1-2 weeks), I am much much stronger doing an ab workout and can manage planks much better. If it has only been a few days, my abs give out really earlier, especially doing planks.

So, my question is, if I want to continue to build ab/core strength and get some good shape there, should I just do abs/core once per week so that I am strong when I do it? Or, should I work them 3 times per week (as recommmended by Cathe in her description of the new core workouts coming out) even though I don't fel strong?

Any thoughts?

 

[dss62467]

I do it 3 times a week. Any more than that and my form is pretty bad and I'm just wasting my time.

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi-

I have had good luck training my abs 3-4x per week but I do different things for each workout. Also, I will put a day of rest in between each ab workout..
So it kind of looks like this for ab work:

Mon- All Plank work
Wed- Stability Ball ab work
Fri-Weighted Ab work
Sun (if it doesn't fall on a rest day) standard ab crunch work

I have had the most gains when really mixing up the workouts. If I get in an "ab" rut, I can really tell.. ( of course, that usually happens right at the same time as a cheeto/oreo rut as well!

Take care, Lynn M.

 

[shopgirl]

I do some form of abs everyday. Sometimes for 5 minutes, sometimes for 10. The CTX All abs is great for this. Lots of variety.

- Shopgirl

 

[Maximus]

Twice a week for me. Two weighted exercises, 4 sets 15 reps each exercise.

 

[mogambo]

I do abs about every other day, and try to mix it up, plank style, V-pikes, crunches, bicycle.