Exercise less for great Abs: for the best results, should I do an ab workout every day or every other day? … and more of your questions answered here - FitnessQ+A

Shape, Dec, 2003 by Suzanne Schlosberg

Q I've heard that doing abdominal exercises every day will help you get a firmer midsection. But I've also heard that it's best to do these exercises every other day to give your ab muscles a rest. Which is correct?

A "Work them twice a week, as you would any other muscle group," says Tom Seabourne, Ph.D., co-author of Athletic Abs (Human Kinetics, 2003) and director of kinesiology at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant. The rectus abdominis is the large, thin sheet of muscle that runs the length of your torso, and "this muscle responds best to high-intensity training," Seabourne explains. "If you try to do high-intensity training every day, you're going to break down the muscle." Seabourne recommends choosing ab exercises that are challenging enough that you can perform just 10-12 repetitions per set. (Rather than choose the mundane crunch, for instance, perform crunches on a stability ball, which are considerably tougher.) Then let these muscles rest at least 48 hours between workouts.

Q Should you tip your personal trainer, and if so, how much?

A "Tipping is by no means required, nor should it be expected," says Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. "However, it is customary to tip [or give a gift or bonus] during the holiday season. The typical amount is the cost of one session." A session with a personal trainer can range from $35-$100, mainly depending on where you live. Of course, Bryant notes, you should consider how pleased you are with the trainer's services, how often you work with the trainer (the more often, the more likely you might be to tip), and how much you can afford.

Q I love to exercise at home with videos or DVDs. Is there a Web site that can tell me which exercise tapes or DVDs are effective and fun?

A Visit videofitness.com, an online community of fitness-video enthusiasts, suggests Shape fitness editor Linda Lewis. The site features reviews of tapes and DVDs in 26 categories, from kickboxing to Pilates to stability-ball workouts. For each video/DVD, you'll typically find multiple reviews expressing a variety of opinions about the workout. Since the site doesn't sell videos, community members tend to be honest in their assessments.

"One great feature of the site is the Personal Video Selector," Lewis says. This tool helps you find the videos that best meet your needs and interests.

Send your questions to Shape, Fitness Q & A, 21100 Erwin St., Woodland Hills, CA 91367; fax to (818) 704-7620; e-mail to FitnessQ&A@Shape.com.

Suzanne Schlosberg is the author of Fitness for Travelers (Houghton Mifflin, 2002).