5 New Ab Exercises to Try NOW
While we advocate a strong core all year round, there’s nothing like the warmer temperatures to give you the kick of motivation you need to take your ab workout to the next level. We reached out to our Reflex Supplements White Rock owner, Brett Anderson, to help us shock our abs with a new routine to help get us shredded and strong for summer.
5 New Ab Exercises to Try NOW
- Kettlebell L-Sit: To perform an L-sit, set the kettlebells on the floor, shoulder width apart, positioning yourself between them. Using a firm, but neutral grip, push your yourself off the ground, locking your elbows as if you’re at the top of a dip exercise. Aim to keep your shoulders down. Your legs should be tight together, parallel to the ground, forming a 90-degree angle with your torso. Hold as long as you can. Repeat as many times as you can for 2 minutes.
- Hanging Leg Raises: these are a great exercise as they really target the muscles in your midsection, and can be performed anywhere that has a bar. To perform the exercise, grab hold of the bar and just hang until all the momentum is gone. Flex your abs, arms, and lats, and slowly raise your feet up to the bar, keeping your legs straight the whole time. Slowly lower and repeat. Aim for 4 sets of 20-25 reps.
- Ab Wheel Roll Out: The ab wheel rollout is great because it helps you brace the core, while lengthening it out. One of the biggest mistakes people make while doing this workout is letting their lower back sag while they roll out. Tighten your core muscles, and keep you back flat as your roll out. Only roll as far out as you can while holding that position. Aim for 4 sets of 10-12 reps.
- Plank: this is great isometric exercise to challenge the core muscles, that requires nothing more than your own body weight. Start in a prone position on your toes and forearms, with elbows directly under the shoulders. With your abs tight and your back flat, hold as long as possible, repeating as many sets as it takes to hit 5 minutes.
- TRX Fallout: like the ab wheel roll out, this exercise works on bracing and extending the core. Start with the TRX handles just below waist height. To get into starting position, grasp the handles and lean forward slightly, as if you are in an incline pushup position. Now with arms straight, continue to lean forward, bringing your body closer to the ground and raising your arms over head. Keeping your back flat and abs tight the whole time, return to the starting position. Aim to complete 4 sets of 8-10 reps.
Brett recommends training your abs 2-3 times per week, aiming for 2 to 3 of these exercises per ab workout.
For more expert advice be sure to visit one of our Reflex Supplement locations. Or if you like this workout, or have some fitness tips of your own we want you to join our tribe. We are #ReflexNation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
Brett Anderson is a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) Certified Personal Trainer. You can find him at your local Reflex Supplements White Rock Location.
