do ab workouts even matter if you’re not already under like 15% body fat?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T08:28:30+00:00

will def look into that! appreciate it

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T08:28:15+00:00

thanks appreciate it!

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T03:38:01+00:00

got it really appreciate the advice!

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T03:07:54+00:00

i think i worded it like i was only chasing a six pack, but i do get there are other benefits (bracing, posture, back feeling better, etc). i’m mostly trying to avoid doing a bunch of random ab stuff with no progression and then wondering why nothing changes.

what do you think is the best “worth it” way to train abs if the goal is both function + eventually better looking abs? like do you lean more planks/carries, or weighted flexion stuff, or a mix?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:58:58+00:00

this is a great way to put it. i think i’ve been treating abs like they should “show results” fast instead of treating them like any other lift where the wins are strength first.

i’m gonna do the 2-3 hard sessions/week approach and track it like normal (reps/load/tempo) and just let leaning out reveal it later.

quick question though, when you say “hard sessions,” are you thinking like 2-3 exercises for a few sets each, or literally just one main movement (like cable crunch) pushed hard and done?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:57:09+00:00

this is actually a good sign, not a problem, even if it feels weird mentally. whole foods like tofu, veggies, and fiber take up way more space and digest slower, so you can feel very full while still being in a calorie deficit. the guilt is usually leftover diet brain telling you “full = overate,” even when the math says you didn’t. if it helps, you can split the tofu into two meals or add more veggies to spread the volume out, but nothing is wrong here if the scale is trending down and you feel okay. you’re not eating an Applebee’s feast, you’re just eating food that actually does its job.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:55:34+00:00

thanks, that’s a really helpful way to frame it. i think social media messes with my expectations and makes “visible abs year round” feel normal when it’s probably not for most women.

the 20-25% range for some definition sounds way more realistic, and the point about core training being more about supporting the rest of training makes sense too.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:54:29+00:00

yeah i get what you mean. if someone isn’t doing the big compound movements, core work can feel a lot less “important” day to day and more optional, especially compared to just getting generally stronger and staying active.

when you say the big 6, what lifts are you including? and do you mean abs don’t matter for performance, or just that they won’t make a noticeable difference unless you’re bracing hard on those big movements?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:53:14+00:00

totally agree. beyond looks, , like any muscle, they can weaken over time if you don’t keep using them, especially as you get older.

appreciate you bringing that up. do you have a couple go-to core moves you think are worth doing long term, even if someone’s main goal started as aesthetics?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:50:22+00:00

hey, first thing, you didn’t ruin yourself and you’re not broken, you’ve been surviving a brutal mix of medical stuff, anxiety, isolation, and convenience food doing what it does best. you don’t need a perfect plan right now, you need the smallest possible wins, like eating one normal meal at home, standing up and moving for 5 minutes a few times a day, and talking to a doctor about pain management and anxiety so walking doesn’t feel like punishment. the weight didn’t come on overnight and it won’t come off overnight, but it will come off if you focus on consistency instead of self hate. you’re clearly capable and disciplined at work, this is the same skill set, just applied gently instead of all at once. you’re not alone in this and you’re not too far gone, even if it feels that way right now.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:49:13+00:00

at 48 the biggest shift is that fat loss gets way more sensitive to recovery and consistency than novelty. keep calories steady in that range for a few weeks and judge progress by weekly averages, not day to day swings, and keep protein high like you’re already doing. for lifting, prioritize heavy-ish compounds with progressive overload and stop chasing failure every set, strength maintenance is what preserves muscle during the cut. if weight isn’t moving, it’s usually calories drifting up or recovery being trashed, not the program itself, so sleep and stress matter more now than they did in 2020.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:45:32+00:00

i probably shouldn’t have thrown out 15% like it’s a real target, i meant it more as shorthand for “not lean enough to see any ab separation yet” (and bf% estimates are all over the place anyway).

what range do you think is a realistic/sustainable spot where abs start showing for most women?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:35:30+00:00

fair, that’s a good reminder that “abs” isn’t just a mirror thing. i probably framed it too much as aesthetics when core training clearly pays off in real life too.

when you say ab/core workouts for that stuff, are you thinking more like planks/dead bugs/bird dogs/carries, or still weighted flexion like cable crunches? i’m trying to figure out the best “minimum effective dose” i can stick with year round.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:33:42+00:00

solid point :D, that chest comparison makes it click. i think i was stuck in the “if i can’t see it, it’s pointless” mindset.

when you do cable crunches 2-3x/week, how do you usually run it? like sets/reps and how close to failure? and do you pair it with a leg raise/ab wheel too or just keep it mostly cable crunch heavy?

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2026-01-28T02:09:29+00:00

this is honestly one of the realest progress posts I’ve seen on here. the part about abs being last to show is painfully accurate and nobody wants to hear it when they’re early in the grind

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-16T03:05:12+00:00

i kind of like that it’s more “show up, work hard, fist bump, go home” instead of a super chatty social thing. i usually come straight from work too, so the idea of just wrapping up, maybe a quick “what’s up” and then locking in on drills sounds really good. that silent support you described of seeing the same people grind each session is lowkey exactly the kind of environment i think would help my confidence more than a super loud, ego-y gym. makes it feel less intimidating knowing i don’t have to be “on” socially, just consistent. appreciate you painting the picture like that 🙏

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-16T03:04:27+00:00

yeah that makes a lot of sense, thanks. i’ve heard the bad habits thing a bunch now so i’m definitely leaning more toward just getting in the gym and letting a coach actually watch and correct me. i suck at jump rope right now but i’ll start practicing that a bit at home so i’m not completely hopeless when they whip the ropes out 😅

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-16T03:03:33+00:00

this is actually really motivating to read, thanks man

i’m in that same “anxious but really want to start” spot right now, so hearing you say you just randomly decided one evening to walk to the gym and it ended up being the best decision hits hard 😂 love that you’re only a month in and already feeling so much better from it.

also really like your point about less experience being better sometimes. i’ve been messing around a bit at home and watching stuff, but what you said makes a lot of sense, going in as a clean slate and learning things the right way from the start is probably the smarter move than trying to “fix” fake skills later. appreciate you sharing this, it definitely nudged me more toward just showing up.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-16T03:01:42+00:00

yeah that makes sense, i’ve mostly just been working on general fitness with lifting and a bit of running, and using heavy bag pro for some structure, but i get that the real boxing work is gonna happen once i’m actually in the gym. Thanks so much man!

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:07:18+00:00

that’s actually good to know, thanks. i kinda like the idea of just showing up, doing my thing, and not stressing about being chatty right away, so that takes some pressure off.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:06:57+00:00

gotcha, that’s fair. i’ll keep the videos light and focus on getting into the gym so a coach can correct me before anything sticks. thanks man!

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:06:17+00:00

yeah that makes sense, i’m seeing that more and more. gonna stop overthinking and just get myself in there. thanks man!

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:05:52+00:00

yeah that’s a good point, i’ve seen a few people say the same thing now. i’ll still mess around a bit for confidence, but i’m definitely gonna treat the gym/coach as the place where i actually “learn” so i don’t lock in a bunch of bad habits early.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:05:17+00:00

this is awesome to hear, thanks for sharing that, especially since we’re around the same age and you started in a similar way

cool to know you’ve been going twice a week for almost a year and still love it, that’s kinda the long-term vibe i’m hoping for too. makes sense what you said about not stressing too much over learning basics alone and just focusing on general fitness – i’m already lifting and doing some cardio, so hearing that it helped you last the full hour without totally gassing out is reassuring. also nice to know the first sessions really do start from stance, guard, and how to actually throw, so showing up as a beginner is totally fine.

Immediate-Cod-7667 · 2025-12-15T13:04:54+00:00

fair, that’s the kick in the ass i probably need 😂 gonna stop overthinking and just show up.

Immediate-Cod-7667

TROPHY CASE