Bill Star 5x5 situps

[markdk86]

I was wondering. Normally I always do side pulls and knee raises for obliques and lower abs, but aren't all of those hit with situps ?

I added them the last two weeks but don't like the increased volume so is it necessary ? Aren't the situps enough for all 3 parts of the abdominals ? I'm doing the 4 sets of 5 on a 45 degree incline situp station while holdin a 60 pound weight.

[Darkhorse]

IMO it really doesn't matter. Your goal should just be increasing the strength of your abdominals so it'll transfer to your core lifts. If you don't like the increased volume doing a few different variations of abs work, then I'd stick to one exercise...

I personally like doing weighted situps on the decline bench or using the high pulley with the rope attachment and doing crunches on one of those big rubber balls they have at my gym. I think that as long as you get a good stretch between reps, it'll help to recruit more abs into the crunch.

In my opinion, heavy abs work is necessary for increased squatting and deadlifting numbers. I don't remember what the program calls for, but I'm having good results with doing a 5 x 10 heavy as I can handle for abs. Start off with 3 x 10 and see how you feel.

[markdk86]

Its 4x5 one day and 3x5 the other I believe. I enjoy doing it but I lift in the morning before school so I don't like to rush. I'll stick with what i'm doing.

[EricT]

Here is what I would recommend if you do want to think about more oblique work or even if you don't:

Basically for all assistance work including abs on a 5x5 what I like is instead of using similar loading parameters as the main exercises use a double progression. This will allow you to get a lot of work in but without the total volume going to the moon...so that you can throw in a little oblique stuff or whatever without too much fear.

Basically do what you're doing but just concentrate on increasing the reps until you're doing 10-12 (whatever you like) then raise the weight and lower the reps and repeat. I think this is the best method also to employ for the arm work..I normally like to start with 6-8 and go to 10-12 before moving up the weight. Very successful with that. It's important to keep in mind that assistance is assistance and not about setting any records but this is an easy and very effective way to run it.

Having said all that what you're doing is fine but the reps are a little low for my taste. Not in the context of abs but just in the context of assistance work.