Are You Overtraining Your Abs?

Most body builders are trying to come up with the much-needed "six pack" look. As a result, they focus more on training their stomach area. However, in their quest to achieve the six-pack appearance, some bodybuilders overcame their abdominal muscles.

Bodybuilders can overcome their muscles as much as they can with their other bodypart muscles. Muscles become overtrained when their nervous system, muscle fibers, hormone metabolic systems are overstressed to a state where they are not functioning optimally. When overtraining occurs, muscle growth stops.

Overtraining increases the release of Cortisol, a catabolic hormone, and decreases the release of Testosterone and HGH, both anabolic hormones. Excessive muscle strength can result in decreased muscle strength, strength and size.

One or more of the following symptoms will occur if you exaggerate your abs:

1. Your abs are always sore.

2. You have difficulty increasing the repeatability and / or increasing the resistance

3. It is more difficult to complete previous training numbers, sets, and repetitions.

Your abdominal muscles may be overtrained for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Exercise abdominals daily

2. Insufficient rest and recovery between abdominal exercises

3. Training for "total failure" on too many sets and exercises

4. Exercise too many exercises, sets, and repetitions

To avoid having too many abs you need to understand how to train them properly. Abdominal muscles are no different from your other bodypart muscles. Therefore, the abdominal muscles should be trained in the same manner as other bodypart muscles, using the following abdominal training guidelines:

1. Schedule 2-3 exercises per week with at least one day of rest between exercises.

2. Hire 2-3 exercises per workout, using 2-4 sets per workout.

3. Practice within 8-20 repetitions.

4. Train to "almost fail" and avoid taking each set to "total failure".

5. Only add additional resistance if the correct shape and technique is maintained.

Do not fall victim to the "hype" and "misconceptions" that may arise about abdominal exercises. Use the same training guidelines for ab exercises as you do for other bodypart muscles. Follow the five guidelines above, "listen to your body" and make appropriate adjustments to your abdominal exercises. If you do that, your risk of over-exercising your stomach muscles will decrease.

Are You Overtraining Your Abs?


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