8
votes
Accepted
Can an intense core/abs workout gives you diarrhea?
No. Diarrhea is a symptom of what's going on inside your stomach. Your abdominal muscles are outside, and don't have any effect on your digestive system.
If you have a problem with diarrhea, you ...
- 17.9k
8
votes
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Running-101: For beginners who would like to give up smoking
Your question is pretty subjective, because nobody can tell you how much to run, or whether or not you'll even enjoy it as a regular activity. Same with diet and time of day, that's all personal and ...
- 22.5k
8
votes
I don't feel my ab workouts
Just to get this out of the way
Probably one of the most commonly uttered phrases around here, but it can't be said often enough: A flat belly is made in the kitchen, not in the gym. It doesn't matter ...
- 17.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Benefits of Overhead KB Walks
Congratulations, you found the secret muscle group, technically known as the "everything".
Being slightly more serious, loaded carries are one of the best exercises you can do to improve strength, ...
- 4,733
6
votes
Accepted
Abdominal role in squats
Squats train all of the supporting muscles of the torso -- including the anterior/abdominal muscles -- if you use a Valsalva maneuver.
Consider performing each squat repetition using these steps:
...
- 1,801
6
votes
Accepted
When and how often should I train my core/abs?
The amount of (appropriate intensity) training volume necessary to maintain Ab Hypertrophy is typically going to be zero sets per week. The minimum volume required to make progress is also typically ...
- 4,412
6
votes
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Are the basic barbell lifts not enough for the "core"?
‘The core’ is one of the most ambiguously used, misused, and poorly understood terms in physical fitness. Much of the trouble with this discussion originates from our distinct ideas of what the core ...
- 6,161
6
votes
Are situps considered a good core workout?
Short answer: No. As an exercise they are sub-par, and as a workout they don't even qualify. But we can tweak it, and add to it, in order to reach our goals. I agree with the article author's decision ...
- 17.9k
5
votes
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Wallsit - Any Benefit to the Wall?
The squat and the wall-sit both are done for different purposes. You could mix them, but that could mean diluting the individual advantages of each. Try doing a wall-less sit of the kind you describe, ...
4
votes
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Exercises for Abs (Chronic Neck Pain)
Here's one I haven't seen bother the neck, the Pallof Press. (Or, because I hate exercises named after names, what I call "Ab Punchouts"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3siU3GmosE
It’s crucial to ...
- 1,667
4
votes
Abdominal role in squats
It is a bit more complicated than that.
The main abdominal muscles are the rectus abdominis, external and internal obliques, and the transverse abdominis. The purpose of these muscles is two-fold: on ...
- 1,967
4
votes
Are the basic barbell lifts not enough for the "core"?
Basic barbell lifts train bilateral strength for the core sufficiently for most athletics. They do not maximize all athletic qualities in the trunk, nor do they resolve all problems in the trunk, so ...
- 24.9k
4
votes
Core exercise for Planche
The planche does not require any contraction of the abdominal muscles, so that's extremely unlikely to be what's limiting you. The natural tendency of gravity in the planche is to pull your hips down, ...
- 13.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Core exercise for Planche
Absolutely incorrect about abs not being used - abs are extremely important here to maintain a hollow back. If the abs are not contracted then the lower back will arch and you will not be able to hold ...
- 56
4
votes
Need progressively harder isolation core & abs exercises
There's two separate issues here: definition and strength.
Definition is primarily diet.
Searching the web for ab/core exercises provides a wealth of options. Without equipment:
Strict crunches
...
- 2,277
3
votes
Best bicep improvement for a skinny 14-year old?
Tweaking what you currently have would be pointless. You need to follow an actual plan if you want good results. Under the best of circumstances a man can only realistically hope to build a single kg ...
- 4,412
3
votes
Is planking with a weightlifting belt beneficial?
The purpose of a weightlifting belt is to boost the effect of a valsalva maneuver in increasing intrathoracic pressure during heavy lifts, where that pressure is used to keep the torso rigid. You take ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
Accepted
short exercises to improve core strength, balance and flexibility?
Short exercises I can do of a morning, without specialist equipment, that will specifically help me with balance and both flexibility and strength in my legs and back?
Look to reddits r/...
- 6,972
3
votes
Accepted
How to tighten core during normal activities?
The best thing you can do, is to forget about trying to consciously tense your abs during daily activities.
There is nothing inherently wrong with relaxing the stomach muscles, especially during ...
- 1,967
3
votes
How to use less abs/core in this exercise?
Other than bracing your midsection, you shouldn't be using abdominals at all in that exercise unless your form is very poor. The abdominals main function is to either curl the upper torso towards the ...
- 22.5k
3
votes
Can ab wheel replace crunches?
The ab-wheel and products like it can give you much faster results than crunches and sit-ups alone. I would advise that you have to have almost perfect form when using wheel type products and must ...
- 31
3
votes
Plank Progressions
I strongly recommend reading this article regarding the right way to perform planks. Here are some relevant quotes:
A plank should be a very intense, full body contraction that lasts only 8-10 ...
- 31
3
votes
Abbreviated core workout routine
If you're looking to do 3-4 sets per week of one exercise then I think you'd be better off just playing more intensely with your dogs. That's way too low of a volume to even matter. Maybe get a ...
- 4,538
2
votes
Do planks tighten up hip flexors? (Back pain when doing core exercises)
Just to clarify one concept, there is no hip extension while doing planks however don’t mistake joint movement with muscle tension (or a muscle contraction).
Yes, planks require an isometric ...
- 2,795
2
votes
Rectus abdominis vs oblique muscles
There's an interesting article on this subject at T-Nation - in particular see the charts for muscle activation of RA and EO in various exercises. Essentially the rectus abdominus is not recruited ...
- 611
2
votes
Accepted
How few weight lifting exercises can I do and still get a good workout of the back muscles?
Thanks for the question. However answer can be quite complicated. I'll try to go through points I have in mind. Hope it help.
10-12 reps per set, with high weight is much. Normally up to 6 reps per ...
- 1,367
2
votes
What sports or activities work out abs/core intensely without specifically being an ab/core exercise?
Sports that require the co-ordinated movement of the upper and lower body will naturally activate your abs/core muscles. Sports in which this rotational movement is constant will give the abs/core ...
- 255
2
votes
Running-101: For beginners who would like to give up smoking
I have never smoked but know runners that do or used to. Running may not make you quit smoking immediately but as you increase your mileage you will want to more and more. I know a lot of smokers who ...
- 281
2
votes
McGill "Big 3" Exercises - The Side Plank
Counting the reps is very secondary, after making sure that you're training both sides equally.
If you do [left, center, right, center], it doesn't matter if you call it one rep or two reps. It's ...
- 17.9k
2
votes
Accepted
Do weightlifting belts improve or hurt long-term development of core strength?
There currently exists no evidence in the literature to suggest that the use of weightlifting belts during training improves long-term unbelted performance in any way.
Given the prevalence of their ...
- 6,161
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible