How often should I train abs?

Really does depend on what you're hoping to achieve. If you're doing exercises such as weighted pull ups, weighted dips, standing military presses, squats & deadlifts, there is almost no need to train abs independently as they will receive plenty of hard work as it is. If its more of a vanity thing (6 pack on show), low bodyfat levels are the key. There are plenty of people that will train their abs everyday, some with added resistance & some using high reps and no weight. If you look on YouTube and search for 'Hannibal For King', check out his abs. He doesn't train his abs. Martin Berkhan (leangains.com) doesn't do any independent ab work, yet his abdominal development is ridiculous. If you really feel the need to train them, twice a week is more than enough. Anything over 10 minutes, twice a week is just a waste of time.

Hi Sherif

Yes, Chris is correct. If you follow a good overall weightlifting regime, doing plenty of basic, heavy exercises and you get your body fat down low enough, you can have a great six pack without ever directly training abs.

I rarely used to train abs and when I cut down I had an excellent six pack (although I train abs now for general muscular balance and I may have added a little muscularity and form to them as a result but nothing dramatic.

Training abs at least once or twice per week is probably a good idea to add a little more form to them and to improve your core stability and avoid injury. Also, if you do a sport that requires core strength, then you could do abs 3 times per week. Any more than three per week probably has little if any added benefit beyond burning extra calories and that extra training time could be used more effectively.

What types of compound movements would you recommend for that? The ones in my routine now are, bench press, squats and pullups. Anything more that I could incorporate to my routines?

Thanks
Castell

Deadlifts. No better exercise. I recently wrote an article on how to perform the deadlift correctly with 8 easy to follow steps. Make sure you take a nice deep breath & hold it throughout the lift & lowering portions of the movement. This will give the lower back some added protection. On top of that, keep the core nice and tight *which will also support the lower back & stimulate the abs.

Hi Cris, could you please send me a link to your article? I've stopped dead lifting as everytime I do it I feel some lower back pain (not soreness) the next day which makes bending a real task.

Hi Castell,

absolutely, go to http://www.totalbodysculpture.com & click on the 'Training' tab on the menu, the article should come up as the first option. (shameless plug) Feel free to check out the 'Fit-Chef recipes amongst other things. I'm currently trying to build the website up to be one of the most interactive out there so feel free to give any feedback to can.

all absolutely spot on. Diet is the real key to abs. Everyone has abs or we would fold in half, showing them out is a bit more difficult but dieting is the answer. you should see your top 2 abs showing through when you're about 10% body fat

I would suggest adding front squats and snatch-grip dead lifts to really help hit your abs! Both gave me lasting soreness in my abs.