Thicker ABS?

[CHAI]

It goes without saying that in order to "have abs" you must be lean. However, I have very thin abs and would like to thicken them up so they can poke through a bit easier. Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of exercises, reps, sets and frequency. I know some people are blessed with great abs, so I would like to hear from those who have actually increased overall abdominal thickness.

I do not want to get a blocky midsection, as I like the V-taper look. I would just like to add a little bit of thickness to that area.

[RIPT]

Start adding some weight to your ab excercises. Crunches especially will give you that 6pack look, try doing variations of these incline, machine etc.Other ab excercises include knee raise type movements as well as twists and/or oblique crunches. I usually do 3x 20-25 for each.

[mangler65]

Does your gym have an ab machine? Use it and train your abs like you would any other muscle, with resistance.

The biggest complaint I've ever read about in fitness magazines is from people who do millions upon millions of sets of situps and crunches and can't get good abs. they aren't developing the muscle because they aren't using resistance training.

[haggar]

i've got pretty thick abs, top of them are visable even at 20%+ bf, but i dont train them, maybe you'd be better off getting stronger and everything else bigger and thicker abs as a byproduct?

[TheScientist]

Stay away from dead lifts, if you want to keep a thin waist.
Don't avoid hip flexor/lower ab work. It helps with the strength and as a result size/thickness of upper abs

[RIPT]

Will partial deads thicken up your waist???^^

[The Boogieman]

Weighted V-Ups are good. I've been to where I had a 40lb db and 20lb ankle weights going for 6 sets of 40.

do sit-ups with a bar behind your head. try and do sets of 20 to start

[JDdaba]

Originally Posted by TheScientist

Stay away from dead lifts, if you want to keep a thin waist.
Don't avoid hip flexor/lower ab work. It helps with the strength and as a result size/thickness of upper abs

who told you deadlifts give you a blocky waist?

I beleive a blocky waist depends more on your genetic bone structure, than the exersices do. ie wide hips, norrow shoulders

Some or most can not acheive the "perfect" V-taper look no matter what exersizes you do. I would just concern yourself with packing on more mass all over and not worry about a blocky waist.

And yes like others said work you abs like any other muscle.... add weight

[awal]

i always used to use resistance for ab work and i have reasonably thick abs.

[Zam]

Abs are like any other muscle, if you want them to grow add weight. I find nice heavy rope crunches are great and leg raises.

[Travelboyd]

Heavy deadlifts and squats in your routine will do wonders for your torso.

[roidman0212]

I cant agree more, you must train abs like any other bodypart, add the weight and thickness will come guaranteed.

[roidman0212]

Originally Posted by TheScientist

Stay away from dead lifts, if you want to keep a thin waist.
Don't avoid hip flexor/lower ab work. It helps with the strength and as a result size/thickness of upper abs

I am not sure where you got this information, but i have never known of anyone to have a problem with a thick waist from doing deadlifts. Maybe just individualized problem.

[RIPT]

Originally Posted by RIPT

Will partial deads thicken up your waist???^^

Bump.

[MuScLe CeLLs]

i train my abs on the john abdo situp chair called instant abs ,

Instant Abs Review in Home Gym Equipment at Review Centre

you can add weight to this chair and then you can train abs like u were doing sets like for upper body etc

i have about 20 percent body fat ( yup working on it lol ) and u can see my top set of abs and there quite thick, i always tell ppl if only i could get dedicated i might have some sweet abs waiting to be shown off lol ,

anyways lol going off topic i think on my next shop im gonna bulk buy lots of wholesome foods and do a cutting cycle,

anyways back to topic, i recomend this chair, and also leg raises, and using the tricep pull down cable machine, get the rope attachment of the v bar attachment and put behind ur neck and crunch down ,

anyways as ppl have said above, u want thicker abs u have to work them like u do with your other muscles your trying to develope, add resistance !

M Cells

[Sadie]

Originally Posted by TheScientist

Stay away from dead lifts, if you want to keep a thin waist.
Don't avoid hip flexor/lower ab work. It helps with the strength and as a result size/thickness of upper abs

i have been doing deads with pretty heavy weight for 10 years and my waist is 25 inches...

[Travelboyd]

Originally Posted by Sadie

i have been doing deads with pretty heavy weight for 10 years and my waist is 25 inches...

With respect to deadlifts, I think this says it all!!!............Who doesn't like looking at Sadie's waisteline????