We've 
all heard the saying, "Abs aren't made in the gym, they are made in the kitchen", but is this really the case? I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be a nutrition or fitness guru, but I do train very hard and have been doing so for the past twenty five years, and I have to say I have always had a problem with this statement. Let's be real, abs are not created in the kitchen, they are REVEALED there. The abdominals are a muscle group just like any other in your body, and require rigorous training and adequate rest to achieve that "blocky" look. For the majority of people, clean diet alone will not give them the look they desire.
That being said, it is important to keep your specific body type in mind when doing any exercise routine. We are all different, and what works for one may not necessarily work for another. For instance, I have an unnaturally small 29 inch waist, so I utilize very heavy weights in my abdominal workouts. Consequently, those with naturally wider waists should use lighter weight and definitely avoid side bends (unless you are looking to increase your waist size and decrease your V-taper). Trial and error is the best way to find out what works best for you. I generally train my abdominals twice a week, and mix it up frequently. Keep in mind that just like the calves, the abdominals are constantly being engaged in our day to day activities, and therefore require being worked to the point of exhaustion. Additionally, try to really focus on keep your abdominals contracted throughout the entire exercise rather than just going through the motions and not really engaging the muscle. Below is one of my routines....
ABS WORTH REVEALING ROUTINE:
Cable Machine:
Woodchopper: 5 sets of 50 (add a Superman punch at the end for even better external oblique emphasis. Should be one fluid motion)
Woodchopper extending up: 5 sets of 50
Woodchopper extending down: 5 sets of 5
Hanging Leg Raises: 10 sets of 20 (beginners can start with knees bent. More advanced individuals should add weight accordingly as strength increases)
Decline bench sit-up with medicine ball throw: 5 sets of 30
(Beginners start just doing the sit-up, gradually working up to a 12 pound ball. Explosive, yet controlled movement is key. Make sure to extend the medicine ball behind head with arms fully extended so that the ball taps the floor. Requires a partner if you are tossing the ball.)
There you go! Knock out this routine or one similar one a couple times a week and you will build abs worth seeing. When you follow this with clean eating enjoy revealing that hard work!
Subscribe to RxMuscle on Youtube
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|||
