Improve performance and construct a no-nonsense core with this descending ladder workout. Whether your goal is to lose weight or get shredded, everything begins and ends with your core. “This workout incorporates all the abdominal muscles and works to strengthen your midsection, improving performance,” says Ruben Belliard, CPT, group fitness instructor, weight management specialist and youth...
Try these moves to whittle your waist and enhance crucial strength. Many abdominal workouts focus exclusively on your six-pack, but in truth, your core is 360 degrees of muscle, tendon and ligament encircling your middle. When we talk about the core, we’re referring to your abs, your hips and your lower back — foundational elements for...
One of the fittest women in America shares her secret to core strength.We all know it’s essential to build a solid core. Not only do ab exercises help reduce back pain, but they also allow you to move better because your core is involved in everything you do. Whether you’re doing squats, deadlifts, push-ups or...
Bikini pro and Olympia and Arnold champion Ashley Kaltwasser shares her favorite tricks to achieve a head-turning midsection.Have you heard the phrase “abs are made in the kitchen”? I find this to be 100 percent accurate. Diet plays a major role in unveiling abdominal definition. But if you don’t develop solid muscle in this region...
Take your plank — and your core — to the next level with this stability move.Planks are super effective core exercises that not only strengthen the abs, but also your low back, glutes, shoulder, chest and upper back. Adding the medicine ball to the plank improves stability throughout your entire core while strengthening the upper...
Activate your core and strengthen your back with this comprehensive guide of techniques to decrease pain and improve spinal health.Eighty percent of Americans are estimated to experience at least one episode of back pain in their lives. And according to the American Chiropractic Association, the total cost of back pain treatment in the United States...
If you’re ready to get down, this core program will have your middle looking magnificent in no time!Sometimes the most difficult part about working your core isn’t training it — it’s determining new ways to punish it. “Shaping an impressive core takes a mix of moves that no one ever does, done in a way...
Look no further than this do-anywhere workout to define your outer thighs and glutes.Let’s make this clear: There is no such bodypart or muscle called a “saddlebag.” Like “muffin top,” it’s essentially a made-up word in the fitness industry to describe a place that holds excess fat. For those of you who have never heard...
Strengthen, sculpt and burn all at once with this ab-and-cardio combo workout.Savvy exercisers know that achieving a six-pack requires a combination of ab-centric resistance training and an intensive cardio program (as well as a clean diet). But can you blend cardio and strength work together in the interest of efficiency? Samantha Carmean, CSCS, SFG, PN,...
Let these five ab-specific moves be your ultimate guide to a strong and svelte core this summer.We all know abs are made in the kitchen — but they’re also perfected at the gym. Nutrition and fitness are the dynamic duo you’ll need to rock a midriff-baring tank or that itsy-bitsy bikini with confidence this summer....