When’s The Best Time To Train For Getting Six Pack Abs?

People who are concerned with getting six pack abs often wonder when the best time to train is for this particular goal. Should they do their ab workout at the very beginning? Or is it better saved for later on after the weight training workout? Or, perhaps it’s best to do a set of abs between each set you perform?

Confusion often surrounds this topic so let’s clear a few things up.

Here is the low-down on when the best time to train is for getting six pack abs.

First Thing Up In Your Workout

The first option for when you should perform your six pack abs training is when you first walk into the gym. This approach is used much less often but some people do like to warm up with a set of abs.

I personally would recommend against this.

Why?

Think about it this way. When you’re doing your squats, are your abs working? What about when you’re doing the shoulder press? (hint, you’re standing in an upright position).

You bet they are. The abs are going to be called into play each and every time you stand, squat, bend over, or basically perform any motion other than just sitting in a chair (and even then they will be worked to a very tiny degree).

So if you’re doing some ab work first thing out in your workout, this will decreases their ability to work during the rest of your workout. Since you definitely don’t want to be flopping over during those lifts, your best bet is to make sure the abs are at their best.

So before a workout – not a good plan.

After Your Weight Workout

The second option is to do them after your weight workout. This is a much better option because by that time they will already be slightly fatigued, therefore you won’t even have to do as much ab work to stimulate the muscle fibers.

Plus, since six pack ab training does tend to be less intense than most of the other exercises you’ll be doing, it’s a good way to wind down from your workout.

Between Sets

Some people go about getting six pack abs by doing them between their sets. This can be a good option in some cases, but you need to watch that it’s not dragging your workouts on since you don’t want to overextend your rest breaks between normal exercises.

If you can get a set of abs in between during your allotted rest time, then it’s likely not going to be an issue. Just make sure it’s not preventing you from recovering properly either.

After Cardio

Another option is to perform ab training after cardio. Note here that cardio should also be performed after weight training or on another day altogether. Cardio should never be performed before a lifting workout, but that’s a whole other topic for another day.

The only problem with this, if you are doing cardio after weights, is that your workouts could become l-o-n-g.

If you do weights, then cardio, then abs, then stretch…you could be looking at two hours total time in the gym, which is something you generally want to avoid.

If you’re doing them after cardio on a different day than you do weights, this is probably your absolute best bet.

Why Train Abs At All?

Finally, the last option for getting six pack abs is to not train them at all. Yes, you read that right.

Again, going back to the very first point, your abs are going to be worked whenever you perform any type of lifting exercise.

So really, is it even necessary to dedicate more time to abs?

Not really. You can if you want to strengthen the core, but if your goal is purely getting six pack abs, focus on your body fat. That is what will really determine whether you get six pack abs or not.

Next time you’re wondering when to perform your six pack ab workout, keep these points in mind.

If you’re looking for more information on six pack abs, have a look through this program by Mike Geary.

———-> Truth About Six Pack Abs