Should You Train Abs Directly?

[@browncowvideo]

This is wonderful information! I just found your channel and want to thank you for your insight, clear information, and professional video production. You are an asset to the fitness community, sir!

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers, glad to hear it! Enjoy the content 👍

[@doctorstrange69]

I've got excellent abs and I attribute them to my musical background. This is because I was utilizing my diaphragm for breathing ... which was for wind instruments and singing ... much like compound movements, diaphragm breathing requires an active core being squeezed as you exhale. Did this for 10 years between school and university. At least 20 hours a week.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Very interesting, never thought of that as something which would contribute to an development 👍

[@seveneleven7255]

It's only good genetics and low body fat what you need to get abs

[@seveneleven7255]

And of course, some kind of stimulus

[@realericanderson]

I like doing abs on off/accessory days just to keep me in the gym. It’s interesting because abs are basically the one muscle group people don’t want to grow (bloat) so seeing hypertrophy recommendations is actually counterintuitively helpful

[@aliaskarian3866]

great video. Thanks a million. I have been doing unilateral exercises and I think they're effective to engage ABs

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers, no problem 👍

[@_____J_____]

Haven’t done any direct ab work in a few years now and my sixpack is still pretty good, I might do more in the future tho just to see if/how much it will improve

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Same with me. Yes it would be interesting to see if direct training will have a noticeable effect 👍

[@sterlingcampbell2116]

Did you end up doing more? Results?

[@_____J_____]

@@sterlingcampbell2116 nope hahahaha

[@trenboloneacetate1]

Just found out about this channel. Great content, you're underrated and deserve a lot more subs.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Welcome! Cheers, enjoy the content 👍

[@srdjanjovanovic3313]

Great video , brief and very informative !

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers 👍

[@Cloppa2000]

These videos are awesome for working out an optimal program! I've always thought I needed to include ab work but for my goals and existing power lifts it seems planks and especially side planks would be a total waste of time and just some direct dynamic rectus abdominis work will be sufficient. Very interesting to see the huge difference between static and dynamic effect on the RA. Do you know if it is true on other muscles that Yielding Isometric Holds to failure are as effective as Dynamic Sets to failure? MT

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Good question. I would say dynamic resistance training would be superior 👍

[@MutantCyborg001]

Depends, if you want your abs to experience hypertrophy then you must do some kind of weighted abs excersise, as is just it just depends on your goals.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Yes, if you want to MAXIMISE ab development, then you will probably need to do direct training 👍

[@lbutleriii]

Excellent video as always!

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers 👍

[@hillbillyjake6260]

Very well put as always! Keep up the good work!

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers, will do 👍

[@DanRichter]

I pretty much only do heavy compound lifts. The other day I thought I'd experiment with training abs directly and I couldn't even find a resistance heavy enough to get a good workout, at least with the equipment available. I was able to do 20+ reps and felt like I was wasting time, wasn't even sore the next day. My conclusion is that doing several heavy sets of squats, deadlifts, OHP, etc. per week is doing more than enough for my abs.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

I agree 👍

[@drinkinouttacups2665]

Really? You couldnt find enough plates to make barbell situps hard?

[@DanRichter]

@@drinkinouttacups2665I probably could’ve, though the fact that I’d have to go through the effort of trying to make an exercise that I never do harder means whatever I’m already doing is apparently doing the job.

[@NXD1101]

nice video as usual !

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Cheers 👍

[@luckyjeff5882]

What’s your take on skinny fat teens cutting? I myself are a 15 year old, 205lbs, and 6,3 male and I’m skinny fat with not so much muscle. I’m wondering if it’s so detrimental to bulk or if I were to cut at my age because I’ve been bulking for 6 months with not so good results as anticipated. I’ve always heard that if your not fat as a teenager you should bulk.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

I'd say cut first to get to a body fat that you are reasonably happy with. Then you can decide what to do next 👍

[@stevebaxter2523]

Do you believe that you can emphasis upper/lower rectus abdominus? For instance, do you think weighted cable crunches hit both or should the trainee add a leg/knee raise or everse crunch? Also, thoughts on anti-rotational training?

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

I think it is possible, but not vey significant. for the most part, any rec abd exercises will hit the upper and lower portions similarly. I dont think anti-rotation exercises are good for hypertrophy because thy are isometric in nature. we will get a better hypertrophy stimulus form dynamic training like crunches, leg raises, v ups etc.

[@prnicho]

Isn’t there another point - that weak abs may hinder other moves such as squats so direct training of abs is needed anyway - unless your abs are already strong enough?

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

possibly. However, I would say that your abs will be developed enough to support these lifts by training the lifts themselves 👍

[@prnicho]

@@FlowHighPerformance1 Thanks 😊

[@d3f3kt57]

My abs actually started becoming more visible after I switched from pure bodybuilding to powerbuilding and stopped training them directly (because I find it extremely boring).

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Interesting. Maybe the bracing requirements of heavy squats and deadlifts grew the abs 💪

[@danielandrade9198]

ola, sou brasileiro! se puder depois disponibilizar a opção de legenda, ia agradecer muito!

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately I don't speak Portuguese, sorry!

[@cherubino95]

Does it has sense to have hypertrophy on the abs, for a guy that want people to see them, but also want to have a small abdomen? I mean, having hypertrophy on the abs dosen't make the belly seem larger?

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

It potentially can make the belly look larger. but this would require LOTS of hypertrophy. I think a reasonable amount of direct training wont cause this issue, and will just make the abs look clearer and more defined 👍

[@drinkinouttacups2665]

This is like when women don't lift because they think they'll look like Arnold

[@jamesball5743]

This is great but you should really put the answer up front then explain with data. Right now it’s just data overload and confusing.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

If you want a cookie cutter answer, then these aren't the best videos for you. However, I will try to make the data more understandable for future videos 👍

[@cherubino95]

u can just go to the end of the video and then see the video from the start lol

[@Fried21]

💯🔝💯🔝💯🔝💯

[@firejuggler31]

I’m not lean enough to see my abs regardless. I guess it’s time to hit the elliptical.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Yes, being lean enough is the main priority for visible abs 👍

[@bruh-nt9fy]

i usually directly train my abs cuz i do calisthenics

[@DDD-xx4mg]

I usually throw in 15min abs to finish off the workout

[@Hia_fitness]

How much is little time for direct training? 20min?

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

No more than 10mins per session I'd say 👍

[@Hia_fitness]

@@FlowHighPerformance1 thank you Im used to doing 25 min of direct training at the gym so I guess I will have to change my workout plan a little

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Yes, I'd recommend spending more time on compound lifts, and less time on direct ab training 👍

[@Jtking3000]

Just superset ab work with other isolation work. Time problem solved.

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

This is definitely a viable option 👍

[@kodac4256]

You barely use your obliques on one of them ab wheel things.

[@Shkelqim95]

you can literally feel how much this video is stretched, could´ve been 4 minutes

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

I'm so sorry

[@wurcowejcif9664]

Do you get more fat there as you age??

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Possibly, but I haven't seen any data suggesting that you specifically gain fat only in the mid section as you age 🤔

[@wurcowejcif9664]

@@FlowHighPerformance1 lol but we always see it in people like our dad and uncles..even as I age I notice more there...

[@dantevalentin8849]

I doubt that it is just a matter of more age = more fat. Look at the lifestyle most people have. Sometimes a dude will say "I'm fat cause I'm 45 years old" Yeah, 45 years of drinking alcohol, not exercising, eating unhealthy and in large amounts, smoking, etc. I've heard that there is a statistic that claims that "the *average person gains 15/20 kilos by the time they're 40" But my cuestion is, again; how is the lifestyle of an *average person* , we all know the answer. I'm very suspicious that even medics nowadays are trying to find more excuses for people to be unhealthy and unmotivated. Anyways not trying to offend anyone, just a random opinion

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Yes, weight gain over time is certainly a result of lifestyle behaviours 👍

[@qasimimtiaz9668]

metabolism decreases but doesn’t mean you can’t stay being lean

[@midgetonketamine8529]

What is the effect of training abs when it comes to strenght? I wonder if developing a stronger core will help me perform better on the big 3 and in athletic performance

[@FlowHighPerformance1]

Good question. I am not sure, but most likely it would 👍