The Most Common Mistake When Training Abs & How To Fix Them

What are the most common ab training mistakes preventing you from getting a thick set of abs? We have lined them up for you!

Mistake 1: Not training them at all!

Depending on your genetics it may be very wise to include a block of progressive overload type ab training in our lean bulk program. This will allow the abs to develop and get thicker like any other muscle we want to develop

Mistake 2: Going too light & picking the wrong exercises

Most common and popular ab routines consist of circuit type exercises that are way different from the style of training we do when we for instance train arms or chest. Most of those circuit style exercises do not provide enough stimulus to the abs to grow

We want to apply the same logic to our ab training as to any other muscle group:

- Enough resistance in terms of weight

- Getting 1 or 2 reps close to failure

Replace your boring crunches by the following exercises for example:

- Cable Crunches

- Hanging Leg Raises

Mistake 3: Letting the hip flexors do all the work

In order to allow the abs to grow we must flex them and expose them to strain in shortened and lengtened position. Often during many exercises we allow our hip flexors to take over and do the work

A rule of thumb: if you feel your hips getting achy during your set, you are using to much of your hip flexors

When doing an ab exercise, try to flex your abs, perform a controlled movement and try to not tense your hips or legs but rather keeping them neutral and unflexed