Don't Forget the Abs!

I forgot to mention abs in my previous post about training. I admit that I do go for periods of time and not work my abs (laziness is all), but I absolutely love having a flat, hard stomach and try to remind myself of that when I feel lazy.

Of course, I get the meno-pooch each month which sabotages all my hard work. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am actually looking forward to menopause so this bloat will be gone once and for all.

Back to abs. I do abs three days a week as follows:

Day one: 3 sets of 25 crunches
Day two: 3 sets of 25 reverse crunches
Day three: 2 sets of each of the above

I used to do hanging leg lifts which totally rocked, but one day something went "pop" in my groin and hurt like @#$%!@!! so I don't do them anymore.

Be sure to rest a couple days between your ab workouts. If you feel sore and it hurts to laugh--you are doing a great job!

I also am a BIG fan of an old video called Cher Fitness: A new attitude. The ab workout is phenomenal. When I'm really in ab mode (read summer), I do the routine twice in a row three times a week. I guarantee that if you do that and eat clean, you will have rock hard abs that you will want to show off year-round!

I Think It's Finally Fall

Here in Southern California, we have had a long, hot and often humid summer. It has been hard to stay motivated to work out regularly due to the heat. I like to work out in the evenings after work, but lately when I get home I just don't have the oomph to do it.

Alas, today it is about 80 with a tinge of crispness in the air. While I LOVE summer, this kind of weather energizes me. I am looking forward to getting back into regular work outs again during the week, rather than trying to do all body parts on Saturday and Sunday!

Here is my fall training split:
Monday: triceps/biceps
Wednesday: shoulders, legs
Friday: biceps/chest
Saturday: shoulders/triceps
Sunday: legs/back

I have it set up so that even if I miss a day, every body part can still be worked during a 7-day period. I notice that doing one body part only once a week is fine for maintenance, but not enough to really see the gains.

Now I just have to take advantage of this beautiful weather...when winter comes a knockin' things will certainly change again!