A 50-year-old does 400 ab bench reps. Won't you become a demon of abs too? [Muscle Training Diary 2026/04/16]

I go to ChocoZAP and keep records of my muscle training and karaoke (JOYSOUND National Scoring GP. 1,000 points for 10 songs).

What is the 400 Note Festival?

Lately, whether I'm awake or asleep, or even while I'm hitting the snooze button, I've been thinking about the number 400.

It's the topic for the 400 Note Festival.

The 400 Note Festival is an event being held until the 19th by 'Takacchi,' who runs a collaborative magazine, to celebrate reaching 400 participants.

The rule is simply to add the '#400NoteFestival' tag to your article. The theme can be related to 400, or free submissions are also okay.

In short, it's a small event on Note. By the way, you don't have to be a magazine participant.

By the way, in the previous 300 Note Festival,
300 pairs of underwear were flying around,
or something like a panty collection...

And personally, I participated by drawing 300 with sausages—not human letters—at a hotel breakfast buffet.

It's all a bit strange, but that's normal for me.
Please don't worry about that lol

A revelation from the 'God of 400'...

How should I represent 400 this time? I lack that kind of creativity.

However, while in the restroom at work, I felt like I heard a voice...

Wait, 400 reps of muscle training... seriously?!

No matter how you look at it, well, but...

As the saying goes, 'The dancers are fools, and the watchers are fools; if both are fools, why not dance?'

In the first place, an extraordinary world where underwear flies around,
is, so to speak, an overwhelming festive space.

Very well. I have no choice but to counter madness with madness.

400 Ab Bench Reps

After struggling with my muscle training menu, I decided on 400 reps on the ab bench! This is because a total of 400 reps across multiple machines is a daily number for me.

Above all, it's not fun lol

I made up my mind and headed to a certain ChocoZAP. What happens when a 50-year-old who usually does 100 reps on the ab bench decides to challenge themselves to 400...?

I decided to do my usual 25 reps x 4 sets = 100 reps, plus 4 more sets. Time to start!

100th rep

I do this daily, so no problem.

200th rep

Huh? Isn't this surprisingly doable?!

There was a time when I thought that...

250th rep

I'm getting out of breath. I'll take a short break while checking my phone.

300th rep

My breathing is labored. Sweat is dripping down.

And the back of my knees where the pad hits is painful.

Were ab exercises actually meant to hurt your knees?

350th rep

My lower back hurts. Does doing this much as a standalone menu affect the lower back too?

375th rep

I'm at the point where I can't get back up unless I rest my back against the pad for every single rep. I'm gasping for air...

I've never run one, but is this what a full marathon feels like at the end?

Now it's just a matter of sheer willpower.

The 400th rep

I burned out... completely white... burned out... into white ash...

The door opened the next morning 1

I somehow made it home while stumbling, drank a chuhai, and went to bed. Naturally, I only have regrets when I think about the muscle pain the next morning lol

However...

When I woke up, I didn't feel any muscle pain at all. Is this the effect of recovery wear?!

Or, since I'm in my 50s, will it come two days late? That is unclear. Regardless, there is no doubt that I am surprisingly energetic.

The door opened the next morning 2

And one more thing. The effect on my body age, which I was curious about, was...

It actually stayed at 33!

My body fat percentage is also 18.2%, which is a fairly low level for me personally.

Recently, I haven't been able to do muscle training, so it wouldn't have been strange if the numbers had worsened. However, it seems the effect of the hard training has appeared.

To 400-pack abs...

Furthermore, I received the following grateful comment from the organizer, Takacchi-san.

400-pack instead of six-pack?!
Is this a daily egg sale at the supermarket! lol

Unfortunately, when I looked at my stomach, it wasn't split into 400 packs (obviously) lol

Conclusion

So, why don't you all who read this article try challenging yourselves to 400 sit-ups?

If you listen closely, you should be able to hear it too.

Surely, a new door will open.

Won't you become a demon of abs too?

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author: Shisa Taro
A 50-something multi-otaku. Hobbies include traveling, having conquered all 47 prefectures, as well as karaoke, a cappella, sanshin, and muscle training.

For karaoke, I don't care about gender, genre, or era. I don't force myself to aim for high scores on JOYSOUND national rankings; I just sing the songs I want to sing.