How many sets and reps should I do as a beginner working on my ab's ?

[Drift3r]

I decided that doing the ab bicycle maneuver and the captain's chair workout for ab's to workout is a good idea. From what I have read these have been voted as the number 1 and 2 for the must effective ab and oblique workouts by the American Council on Exercise. So my only question is how many rep's should I do as a beginner and how many sets ?

 

[shimsham]

wild guess: 3 sets of 10?

 

[cpals]

As many as you can.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: cpals
As many as you can.

 

[yobarman]

I like the "till you can't do them anymore" response. Man up, and work those abs till you cry.

i highly recommend boxer crunches.

 

[Ikonomi]

For abs, do it until you can't do it no mo'. Your trunk muscles can take a lot of work, and unless you're using weight, limiting your crunches to small sets isn't going to do you much good.

What are boxer crunches?

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi
For abs, do it until you can't do it no mo'. Your trunk muscles can take a lot of work, and unless you're using weight, limiting your crunches to small sets isn't going to do you much good.

What are boxer crunches?

If they are regular crunches then forget it ! They were ranked at number 11 on the list of most effective ab and oblique excercises.

http://www.aerobicspot.com/topab.htm

The bicycle maneuver is the number one in ab and the Captin's Chair is number 2. For obliques the Capitan's Chair is number 1 and the bicycle maneuver is number 2.

PS Does 20 reps of 4 sound okay to begin with ?