There is more to exercising the core than meets the eye. It does not only give you the confidence to show skin in a trip to the beach, but also the ample strength to execute everyday activities with ease. After all, a strong abdomen enhances balance, stability, posture, and power.
Without a doubt, everyone should engage in core training on a regular basis, and you are no exception. In case you’re a starter looking for an effective set of exercises to tackle, then you have found the right place. Here are some of the top abdominal workouts for you!
Plank
This core classic is one of the most relied upon exercises in the fitness community. The reason being, it is downright simple yet effective. It targets most of your abdominal muscles as well as the chest, back, arms and legs, despite not having any complicated movement involved.
Make no mistake, though, it may be simple but it is not easy to do. A plank is performed in a position similar to a top push up, but in this case, your forearms are the ones resting on the floor, along with your toes, instead of your hands. From there, hold the position for as long as you can, preferably 30 seconds or more.
The longer you withstand this exercise, the more desirable results you will get. Fair warning: maintain proper form at all times, or else injuries may occur.
Mountain Climber
Mountain climber is great for strengthening the core since it can lead to fat loss while putting muscle definition on your abdomen. And much like Planks, it also works your arms, shoulders, chest, and legs to the limit. So, there is no denying that it is a solid addition to your fitness regimen.
This ab-torcher is done in a top press-up stance, where your upper extremities serve as the support, while constantly bringing a knee to your chest in an alternating manner. The repetition and pace of the execution are crucial to achieving significant results. So, crank out as many reps as you can in a minute-long set before taking a 30- to 60-second breather. Repeat until failure.
Bicycle Crunch
A classic exercise in its own right, the Bicycle crunch may sound easy at first, but it will definitely work your core as if you are pedaling through a steep climb. No wonder it is considered by many as an effective workout, which pushes the abs of beginners and longtime fitness enthusiasts to the limit.
In case you have yet to try this one out, expect nothing but a tough challenge coming your way. To start it off, lie on your back with hands placed behind the back and knees bent. Then proceed to the pedaling motion, where you bring a knee to the opposite elbow while the other knee stretched out. Alternate the said movements and repeat until failure.
It is important to maintain a steady pace to avoid bad form, which dampens the effectiveness of the workout and might cause injury.