Building a 6-pack?

Hi folks,
I have started a standard exercise routine now just to keep my muscles toned up. I would like to work on my abs a little more, does anyone have any tips or exercises that work, etc?

TIA
JB

I personally like crunches on an exercise ball... or you can do the "plank" with good form for 1-2 minutes. It's when you rest on your forearms in the pushup position, knees off the ground, and keep your back straight.

If you're looking for something more challenging and have a pullup bar accessible, you can try hanging bent leg raises (make sure to really squeeze your abs at the top), or more difficult straight leg raises.

Originally Posted by JetBlast

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Hi folks,
I have started a standard exercise routine now just to keep my muscles toned up. I would like to work on my abs a little more, does anyone have any tips or exercises that work, etc?

TIA
JB

you are lucky - you are at an age where just about anybody can have a sixpack with a little work. crunches, lots of crunches.

squats, deadlifts and proper diet, doing a shitload of crunches will get you nowhere.

jb, how old are you again? how tall, and do you think that you are done growing? I am not sure you should be doing deadlifts and squats at your age.

Jetblast, Do a search, there's not only one, but two threads on this topic with more than 50 posts on each.

smw, I would disagree that you need leg exercises to build a six pack, especially if you are as skinny as JB appears to be.

Globetrotter,
I am 15, just around 6 feet tall I would think. I'm pretty much done growing it seems like.

I have taken weight training as a class here at school, I was just not able to do it again this semester due to other classes. I did squats and deadlifts on a regular basis.

JB

If you're fifteen you're probably not done growing, although the incremental growth from this point may well be significantly less than it has been.

Erm....most likely you are not done growing. It isn't abnormal for guys to continue to grow until the age of 18 or 19, or so I've read in several places. Seems to be the case too, as I have grown a bit even though I thought I had peaked out at around 17 (I'm currently 19).

You seem to have one growth spurt in your early/mid teens, then you level off for awhile. Then you can actually grow a bit more. Of course, everyone's different, so I'm just speaking in generalities here.

Some people say that it's bad to do lots of strenuous weightlifting before you're finished growing as your bones are still moving around and it can do permanent damage, stunt growth, etc.

Don't know what I really believe myself, but I have always erred on the side of caution and never did much heavy stuff just in case there was some truth to it.

Of course, doing major heavy lifting at any age can be dangerous if you're not prepared for it. Build up your weight slowly, no need to rush.
That's my philosophy anyway....

Just my 2 wooden nickels.....

Thanks for the input, Josh.

I haven't been doing any heavy lifting lately and I don't plan to, I found that I was aching much more after an intense workout with deadlifts

Overall I just want to tone my abs up before summer when I go girl-spotting on the beach.

JB

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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you are lucky - you are at an age where just about anybody can have a sixpack with a little work. crunches, lots of crunches.

Globetrotter, I don't know how old you are but never give up on trying to get your six-pack. I finally achieved it at 39!

I don't believe in the theory that lifting weights at a young age is bad for you, but using good form is going to be as important if not more so at a young age than it will be later.

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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you are lucky - you are at an age where just about anybody can have a sixpack with a little work. crunches, lots of crunches.
+1. A good diet is also a must, and even more so as time is a concern for you.

I am not sure you should be doing deadlifts and squats at your age.

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I have to disagree. High school athletes, especially football players, do squats on a regular basis. If anything, it helps their growth.

Originally Posted by whacked

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+1. A good diet is also a must, and even more so as time is a concern for you.


I have to disagree. High school athletes, especially football players, do squats on a regular basis. If anything, it helps their growth.

Yea i do squats for track and Im in high school you just have to be careful because all the weight puts a lot of pressure on your body especially your back and knees and when you first start dont use too much, ease into it. Also for a six pack leg lifts help a lot and the main thing is running. Everyone has ab muscles but the only way to reveal them is to burn the fat off your stomach by cardio and a good diet. Working your abs out just makes the muscles themselves larger, it does not necessarily burn the fat like cardio can and does. If you are a big dude already, you should focus just as much as doing as much cardio you can do along with all the ab workouts. Aso besides leg lifts those ab wheels are very good if you know what im talking about. My 2 cents.

I would love to get my 6 pack. If I tense my stomach you can see the 6 pack very clearly but a visit to the gym will bring it out good and proper. I was checking up on this topic the other night...