What are some good ab exercises to help squats???

[solidj55]

Im just starting to get back into squats and I want to improve on them as much as possible. I know hips/glutes, lower back/hamstrings, and abs are probably the most important part of the squat despite popular belief that quads do most of the work. Just wondering what you guys do to strengthen your midsection for squats.

 

[bigokie]

Pulldown abs. Spread eagle situps. Situps on a ghr platform. Hanging leg raises. Band pulldown abs. Side bends. If you need any info on these just say so. Good luck with these and work them hard and heavy and your squat will go up.

 

[Cubanito17]

Well bigokie named them all. so this thread is done

 

[solidj55]

Okay first I want to say thanks for the help. Second I must tell you that I used to be bodybuilding pussy so Im not sure about some of these. I think Pulldown abs would be on a cable machine correct? Im not sure what spread eagle situps are. I know what hanging leg raises are and side bends are. I have no idea what a ghr platform is though.

 

[Deciever]

spread eagle sit ups are when you spread your legs and put them on the sides of the power rack (under safety bars to keep your legs secured if u want) and then you do a sit up

ghr - glute ham raise platform

 

[solidj55]

Before you guys start clowning me just remember, I went from so called bodybuilding to being a bench press only pussy lol... I am now trying to get into squats and deads so please be kind.

 

[Deciever]

as long as your trying thats all that matters... i too was a former bodybuilder (more along the lines of a wannabe bodybuilder).

 

[solidj55]

Thanks Deciever, I should have known GHR, I must have drank too much last night lol my damn brain isnt working.

 

[Deciever]

lol when i first saw it , i was like .. WTF?? and then it just clicked and i realized it.

 

[bigokie]

Just a quick hint, on the pulldown abs do these on a pulldown machine while standing. Put your legs on either side of the seat and squeeze your legs in hard against the seat then do the pulldowns. Louie had this tested and it activates the muscles of the abs way more than normal. Also, if your doing normal situps with weights, try putting a medicine ball between your legs for the same reason. I can't remember the percent improvement but it was very considerable, definately worth trying. Also, on GHR situps, start out slow, I saw a westside video where Chuck put a 25 behind his head to do these. So I figured I could do that too. WRONG. Almost killed myself. Now I use a 10# weight and still have trouble. THese are real hard, but they seem to work better than some others. Good luck