During these past six months, I’ve changed up my abs routine and got better results than I have in years! What I’ve learned is that you don’t need to spend hours doing back-wrenching sit-ups and crunches to achieve the abs you’ve always wanted. You just need to work out smarter by combining your ab toning exercises with cardio.
I used to believe that the faster I did sit-ups and crunches, the better my abs would be! But what I’ve come to realize is that to really develop your core, slow and steady really does win the race.
I find slow and consistent reps of leg raises and ab twists to be the most effective (although the slower you go, the more painful it is!)
The most important thing I’ve learned is that you need to undertake full-body exercises to really engage your whole core. The secret to getting the toned abs you’ve always wanted is to combine your core training movements with cardio. By doing this, you will maintain core tension and keep your heart rate elevated throughout the whole workout.
The most important thing to remember is that changing your workout routine regularly not only changes the muscles you target but also keeps your mind and body interested. That’s why circuit training works so effectively.
Not only is circuit training excellent for fat-burning and weight loss, but you can mix it up with different exercises so that you don’t hit a plateau.
This is the ab combo circuit that I do regularly at the gym. It’s great for toning the midsection!
Ab Combo Circuit
1. 20 x Mountain Climbers (CARDIO)
2. 60 Second Plank (STRENGTH)
3. 10 x Burpees (CARDIO)
4. 20 x Reverse Crunches (STRENGTH)
5. 60 Second Sprint (CARDIO)
6. 20 x Leg Raises (STRENGTH)
7. 20 x Jumping Air Squats (CARDIO)
Do this circuit two to three times in a row without any breaks.
Although you will probably feel tired after the cardio exercises, the trick is to get straight into the strength exercises straight away. It’s important to keep your heart rate going throughout the whole circuit! When you’re done, take a break and reward yourself with lots of water.
I recommend doing this ab routine 3-4x a week and you will start seeing results after a few weeks of consistency. And most importantly, eat a healthy diet and keep your consumption of inflammatory foods down to a minimum if you want those abs to show!
