Started By
Message

Swollen Abs

Posted on 4/25/24 at 10:55 am
Posted by lsugerberbaby
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2008
2761 posts
Posted on 4/25/24 at 10:55 am
Anyone get a dissented stomach from working out their abs? Or over-working them?

I heard many years ago that you can't overwork them, so I've just always incorporated my abs into every workout (5 - 6 times a week)...and train them pretty intensely. I'm wondering if I'm getting some weird adverse effect by doing so.

This is all dawning on me after multiple trips to the gastro to figure out why my stomach is bloating/ dissented. A colonoscopy ruled out anything going on there. I've been eating low fodmaps, which seems to help, but still pretty inconsistent.
Posted by scottydoesntknow
Member since Nov 2023
2025 posts
Posted on 4/25/24 at 3:08 pm to
quote:

Anyone get a dissented stomach from working out their abs? Or over-working them?


Has never happened to me
quote:



I heard many years ago that you can't overwork them, so I've just always incorporated my abs into every workout (5 - 6 times a week)...and train them pretty intensely. I'm wondering if I'm getting some weird adverse effect by doing so.


I hate to be that guy...but this really just seems like a waste of time. I never train abs and when I get lean enough, they are always there and look nice. Why not dial it back for a week or two to see of things settle down. I really dont see how training abs could lead to stomach issues though, unless what you are doing is somehow actually manually distressing your organs.
Posted by lsugerberbaby
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2008
2761 posts
Posted on 4/25/24 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

just seems like a waste of time.


I'm leaning that way as well. It's just been part of my routine for so long that I've never really thought about the fact that I'm using my core in nearly every other workout. Just been something I've always done, but certainly going to cut back on that.

quote:

I really dont see how training abs could lead to stomach issues though, unless what you are doing is somehow actually manually distressing your organs.


I don't either, but I've been to the gastro since September trying to figure out this bloating that I've been having. Colonoscopy ruled out any serious, and now I'm just playing with fodmap diets to rule out stuff - which isn't giving me consistent results.
Posted by scottydoesntknow
Member since Nov 2023
2025 posts
Posted on 4/25/24 at 5:34 pm to
quote:

I don't either, but I've been to the gastro since September trying to figure out this bloating that I've been having. Colonoscopy ruled out any serious, and now I'm just playing with fodmap diets to rule out stuff - which isn't giving me consistent results.


Seems like you already kinda know what you are doing. Just your workout in general could be exacerbating some kind of stomach immflamuation your body is trying to deal with. Sorry I wasnt much help there are probably some more knowledgeable folks on here
Posted by GeorgeTheGreek
Sparta, Greece
Member since Mar 2008
66439 posts
Posted on 4/25/24 at 10:17 pm to
This is usually due to hormone supplementation if I’m not mistaken.
Posted by Oates Mustache
Member since Oct 2011
22062 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 10:21 am to
quote:

guy...but this really just seems like a waste of time


I've seen this posted here many times, but why?

These are core workouts, or do you get enough from lifting?
Posted by Mo Jeaux
Member since Aug 2008
58757 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 12:27 pm to
quote:

I've seen this posted here many times, but why?


Yeah, I don't get it either. I think you benefit from core strengthening. I understand the whole "abs are made in the kitchen not the gym" thing.
Posted by scottydoesntknow
Member since Nov 2023
2025 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 12:51 pm to
quote:

I've seen this posted here many times, but why? These are core workouts, or do you get enough from lifting?


Well the core being strong means that it is efficient at transferring energy created usually from the ground, through the body. That means you are effectively training your core with any kind of compound movement. The purpose of the core actually is to resist movement, not create it if that makes sense.

You can do crunches etc to target specific core muscles but in doing so, you naturally create an inbalance. You might get bigger core muscles where they are more appealing, but youll put yourself at risk for injury.
Posted by ronricks
Member since Mar 2021
6646 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 1:07 pm to
quote:

working out their abs


This reminds me of when I was a naive teenager and reading all the muscle magazines like Flex etc.
Nassar El Sonbaty was training at the gym I was a member of when he was in town for something and when he was done training I got the courage to go up to him and ask him a few questions. One of them was about when or how often does he train abs. He looked like he was about to burst out laughing in my face and said "kid, no professional bodybuilder trains abs unless it is for a bullshite photo shoot for a magazine we do it through diet and supplements" (and by supplements he wasn't talking about creatine or protein) I felt like an idiot
Posted by Popths
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2016
3965 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 2:55 pm to
Low weights. High reps
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
12738 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 4:19 pm to
quote:

You can do crunches etc to target specific core muscles but in doing so, you naturally create an inbalance. You might get bigger core muscles where they are more appealing, but youll put yourself at risk for injury.


Yeah the old days of situps and crunches are pretty much gone with anyone that knows better now. Planks, side planks, and rotational movement are much better for your overall core strength.
Posted by scottydoesntknow
Member since Nov 2023
2025 posts
Posted on 4/26/24 at 6:16 pm to
quote:

Yeah the old days of situps and crunches are pretty much gone with anyone that knows better now. Planks, side planks, and rotational movement are much better for your overall core strength.


Dr Stuart McGill is a great deep dive if anyone is interested in core straining or is struggling with back pain.
Posted by Lazy But Talented
Member since Aug 2011
14447 posts
Posted on 4/27/24 at 3:28 pm to
Happened to me once when I overtrained my abs/obliques in one session after not really training at all. It was weird. Felt like my obliques were pulled/torn. Went back to normal after a couple weeks.
This post was edited on 4/27/24 at 3:30 pm
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
22738 posts
Posted on 4/30/24 at 10:22 am to
quote:

I heard many years ago that you can't overwork them


Ask someone who got rhabdo from GHD situps, and they'll disagree.
Posted by BigShowGeaux
USA
Member since Jan 2021
129 posts
Posted on 4/30/24 at 11:36 am to
I really doubt your issues are related to ab workouts.
Do some research/reading into gut health. Here’s a good article to start.

Healthline Article on Gut Health
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram