Should You Train Your Abs Before Or After Your Workout?

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Should You Train Your Abs Before Or After Your Workout?
Here's some thoughts on the timing of your abdominal
training.

1 - Do them first as most people skip abs and calves. Some
trainers will prescribe the ab work and calf work first as
they are commonly neglected body parts.

2 - There's no problem with working abs first as long as
you still have enough core strength to safely finish your
workout.

3 - "Work the weakest body part first", as long as it
doesn't adversely effect other body parts you might work
that day. If your abs are lacking, then you'd certainly
want to focus on them and work them first while your energy
and focus is highest.

4 - Depending on your goals, you can work them first or
last. If your focus is abs then train them first.
Weaknesses should be trained early on in the session when
you are fresh.

5 - Timing doesn't matter. Consistency is the key. Doing
them is more important then when you do them.

5- Do them last after your larger muscle groups as
sacrificing core strength at the beginning of the workout
can compromise safety and strength.

So what is correct?

A study done in the January 2007 issue of Muscle and
Fitness found that a group who performed a 6 rep max squat
set did significantly less weight if they trained abs
before doing the squats.

It was obvious that if you train your abs first, you won't
have the core strength necessary to do certain leg
exercises that require a fair amount of core strength.

If your abs and core are fatigued from previous exercises,
it can cause weakness on subsequent exercises and increase
the risk of lower back injury.

If you are short on time, you can superset them with other
smaller muscle groups like forearms and calves. But never
sacrifice core strength and safety simply to get your ab
training out of the way early even if it's your weakest
body part.

Those concerned with their abs or if your abs are a
weakness, you can do additional work on non-weight training
days (some people do them after cardio to keep them
separate from weight training sessions).

Something to ponder:

Why would you fatigue your triceps before doing chest work?

You wouldn't.

Why would you fatigue your abs before doing any muscles
that require your core as a primary stabilize?

You shouldn't.

While I agree the level of core work depends on the
abilities of the individual there's still NO physiological
reason yet that clearly describes a situation in which case
doing core work BEFORE your workout is beneficial other
than a time saver, your fresh or "do it first so you don't
forget it".

According to David Grisaffi who is a Sports Conditioning
Coach and holds multiple certifications including three
from the prestigious CHEK Institute. Plus he is also the
author of the popular selling e book, "Firm and Flatten
Your Abs,"

On Page 32 of Firm and Flatten Your Abs David says:

"On the days when you are doing weight training exercises
for your other body parts (legs, arms, back, chest,
shoulders), always do your abs and core routine after the
rest of your weight training so that you're not training
the rest of your body with a fatigued core and stabilizers."

The bottom line is: Ab training and any core work comes
AFTER larger muscle groups.

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Marc David is a bodybuilder and author of the, Beginner's
Guide to Fitness and Bodybuilding. You can get info on
Marc's e-book at: http://www.Beginning-Bodybuilding.com To
get Marc's free e-zine, visit http://www.justaskmarc.com

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