A few workout questions...

[JonTheBaller]

I want to get nice abs & pecs... if I do daily pushups and crunches as well as 30-60 min of cardio, will I see results? I'm thin but not toned (5'11" 150 lbs).

Also

1. When's the best time to work out.

2. What's the proper form for pushups?

3. What's the proper form for crunches?

 

[Spac3d]

See sig. We can answer your questions there

You can also get alot of other advice

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
I want to get nice abs & pecs... if I do daily pushups and crunches as well as 30-60 min of cardio, will I see results? I'm thin but not toned (5'11" 150 lbs).

Yes... it may take some time, and you might want to lift some weights

1. When's the best time to work out.

I prefer the morning if possible

2. What's the proper form for pushups?

Hands far apart enough where your elbow is perpendicular to your back

3. What's the proper form for crunches?

Lie on the floor with your knees bent. Then put your hands behind your head and lift your head and chest towards the sky. Your back should come up slightly off of the ground and you will feel more pressure on your abs and you will also be able to do more in one session.

 

[TubStain]

Plain pushups and crunches wont get you bigger. You need to bench with weights and crunch with weights. You are pretty lean, so you just need to bulk up so you need to:

EAT EAT EAT high protein diet.
Bench 150+ lbs 2-3 times per week including incline and decline
Crunch with a weight on your chest on a decline. Also do reverse crunches.

and for those specific goals (pecs and abs) you should notice results (take before after shots) in a month. In about 3-4 months you will have good definitiion.

 

[SpecialEd]

10am i believe is a great time to work out. Breakfast has digested and most of the day is still left. Unfortunately its also the most impossible time to work out.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Spac3d
See sig. We can answer your questions there

You can also get alot of other advice

Thanks Spac.

The rest of you guys should check it out too; we're growing quickly.

Rob

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: SpecialEd
10am i believe is a great time to work out. Breakfast has digested and most of the day is still left. Unfortunately its also the most impossible time to work out.

I don't recommend eating before working out. Maybe that is why to this day it takes me until 10am-11am to get hungry.

 

[JonTheBaller]

Originally posted by: TubStain
Plain pushups and crunches wont get you bigger. You need to bench with weights and crunch with weights. You are pretty lean, so you just need to bulk up so you need to:

EAT EAT EAT high protein diet.
Bench 150+ lbs 2-3 times per week including incline and decline
Crunch with a weight on your chest on a decline. Also do reverse crunches.

and for those specific goals (pecs and abs) you should notice results (take before after shots) in a month. In about 3-4 months you will have good definitiion.

I was hoping to be able to do a lot of exercises in the comfort of my own home - I do some running already and was hoping to be more consistent with as long as adding basic pushups and crunches. If I don't do bench I won't see results? Also should I be trying to eat a low-carb diet?

 

[cchen]

You want nice abs and pecs.
The bottom line is, you gotta use weights to build up muscle. Just doing pushups and situps won't cut it.

Actually, I do know of an intensive pushup program that you might want to try if you don't want to go the gym. My roommate last semester (a NCAA wrestler) used to do it.

You have to be able to do around 300-500 pushups at a time.

You end up doing normal, incline, and decline pushups.

You start with wide arms, and move your way in. After the 5th set, you should be doing triangles.

He did it with 20 pushups each set. So its 100 flat, 100 incline, 100 decline.2 min rest between sets.
Repeat for 5 sets, or, until you can't do any anymore. If that's the case, you should decrease from 20 to a more reasonable number.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: johnnytightlips

Originally posted by: TubStain
Plain pushups and crunches wont get you bigger. You need to bench with weights and crunch with weights. You are pretty lean, so you just need to bulk up so you need to:

EAT EAT EAT high protein diet.
Bench 150+ lbs 2-3 times per week including incline and decline
Crunch with a weight on your chest on a decline. Also do reverse crunches.

and for those specific goals (pecs and abs) you should notice results (take before after shots) in a month. In about 3-4 months you will have good definitiion.

I was hoping to be able to do a lot of exercises in the comfort of my own home - I do some running already and was hoping to be more consistent with as long as adding basic pushups and crunches. If I don't do bench I won't see results? Also should I be trying to eat a low-carb diet?

If you don't lift you will still see results. You might not be bulky, but you will definately notice that you are more tone and fit.

 

[SpecialEd]

Originally posted by: filmmaker

Originally posted by: SpecialEd
10am i believe is a great time to work out. Breakfast has digested and most of the day is still left. Unfortunately its also the most impossible time to work out.

I don't recommend eating before working out. Maybe that is why to this day it takes me until 10am-11am to get hungry.

I try to eat Breakfast around 7-8am. So 10am is more before lunch than after breakfast. But I agree, don't eat right before a workout.

 

[Chunkee]

hanging knee ups, leg lifts (if your back can handle it); decline situps use the big rubber balls for finishing crunches

accentuate your incline bench press

1. Perform compound moves first.
2. Do you biggest muscle groups first.
3. Keep up the intesity- keep your heart rate up. You can do this by: in between reps for chest, do a set of abs, on back day, do a set of calves in between,..you should not be in gym lifting weights for that long, get in do your business and get out.
4. Do your finishing exercises, like cable cross overs, horizontal tree hugs with dumbells, after the compound exercises.
5. REST REST REST REST--at least 8 hour sleep minimum
6. Eat well, eat right, eat small meal throughout the day and drink plenty o water
7. After 8 weeks of heavy lifting, take a week off and do nothing. Good rest and recovery to make you comeback stronger and stronger.
7a ACCENTUATE THE NEGATIVE (eccentric contractions) esp on your back, the cobra look will come much quicker and the thickness as well. GOOD FORM IS A MUST ON THIS.
8. BE SAFE and DONT BE STUPID..USE a spotter, DO NOT COMPROMISE TECHNIQUE FOR WEIGHT AND FOR GODS SAKE DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR FLEXIBILITY>>>STRETCH...take up yoga.

THIS IS A LIFESTYLE...I HAVE DONE IT ALL FOR YEARS AND YEARS...taken people to competitions, helped rehab people, people with eating disorders, and have trained many athletes to get them on the right track.

GOOD LUCK and remember to leave your ego at the door before going in the gym. COVER UP and concentrate on your workout, there is plenty of time to flex in front of mirror, but not during workout. FOCUS

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
hanging knee ups, leg lifts (if your back can handle it); decline situps use the big rubber balls for finishing crunches

accentuate your incline bench press

1. Perform compound moves first.
2. Do you biggest muscle groups first.
3. Keep up the intesity- keep your heart rate up. You can do this by: in between reps for chest, do a set of abs, on back day, do a set of calves in between,..you should not be in gym lifting weights for that long, get in do your business and get out.
4. Do your finishing exercises, like cable cross overs, horizontal tree hugs with dumbells, after the compound exercises.
5. REST REST REST REST--at least 8 hour sleep minimum
6. Eat well, eat right, eat small meal throughout the day and drink plenty o water
7. After 8 weeks of heavy lifting, take a week off and do nothing. Good rest and recovery to make you comeback stronger and stronger.
7a ACCENTUATE THE NEGATIVE (eccentric contractions) esp on your back, the cobra look will come much quicker and the thickness as well. GOOD FORM IS A MUST ON THIS.
8. BE SAFE and DONT BE STUPID..USE a spotter, DO NOT COMPROMISE TECHNIQUE FOR WEIGHT AND FOR GODS SAKE DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR FLEXIBILITY>>>STRETCH...take up yoga.

THIS IS A LIFESTYLE...I HAVE DONE IT ALL FOR YEARS AND YEARS...taken people to competitions, helped rehab people, people with eating disorders, and have trained many athletes to get them on the right track.

GOOD LUCK and remember to leave your ego at the door before going in the gym. COVER UP and concentrate on your workout, there is plenty of time to flex in front of mirror, but not during workout. FOCUS

Maybe you two need to hookup

All good advice

 

[Regs]

Leg lifts is also a good excersise for your abs. You also need to eat. 150 at 5 11' is very small. You need to be at least 170 at that height depending on your frame. Then at least your body will have a little stored energy to work off from.

 

[JonTheBaller]

Well I fluctuate between 150-155 but yeah I know what you're saying, I'm skinny. (side note: granted it has its downsides, but it's better to be too skinny than too fat)

 

[Regs]

If you want a good ab workout, get into the elevated pull-up position . Then lift then pull your knees to your stomach. Great ab work out, just don't expect to do a lot of these at first without conditioning.

I like to do a 5 min quick cardio-work out to get the blood pumping before I start muscle training. Now I simply jog for 30 mins before I do anything.