drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
"Rear Core Muscles" vs. Six-Pack Abs: A while back there were several studies that concluded that squats and deadlifts "activated" the core muscles nicely. But many missed the nuances in those studies. The lumbar multifidus, transverse abdominis, and quadratus lumborum core muscles were trained the hardest by squats and deads... not the muscles you think about when you think "abs" – the rectus abdominis (6-pack) and the obliques. As Coach Nick Tumminello has noted, the boring ol' push-up activates the abs and obliques more than squats or deads (based on EMG testing). You also "activate" your abs when you take a post-cheat day dump, but that's not exactly hypertrophying them.
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The Abs Need to be Built With Resistance: Diets don't build or strengthen abs, they just make them more visible. You wouldn't tell someone who wanted big traps to just eat less so his puny traps will show up better, right? Same with abs. Abs need some direct training for aesthetics, strength, and athleticism. And that includes heavy work.
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The Abs Need to be Built With Resistance: Diets don't build or strengthen abs, they just make them more visible. You wouldn't tell someone who wanted big traps to just eat less so his puny traps will show up better, right? Same with abs. Abs need some direct training for aesthetics, strength, and athleticism. And that includes heavy work.
