Latest news with #abexercises
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Old-School Ab Routine That Built Classic Physiques Without Crunches
Flip through any health and fitness magazine from the last few decades and you'll find no shortage of ab exercises promising that coveted six-pack—crunches, sit-ups, planks, you name it. And while those moves all have their place in a solid core routine, they might not cut it if you're chasing the kind of definition seen on old-school bodybuilders. Hanging leg raises and Roman chair sit-ups, on the other hand, were staples in golden-era routines for a reason. These exercises demand a greater range of motion and target far more than just the upper abs. Unlike crunches, which primarily hit the top of the rectus abdominis, these moves engage the lower abs, hip flexors, obliques, and deep stabilizing muscles. That makes them more effective not just for aesthetics, but also for building serious, functional core strength. "These two moves train the core differently compared to modern ab exercises like crunches or cable crunches because they allow a greater range of motion," said NYC-based Life Time Trainer Joseph David. "A deeper stretch and contraction will lead to amazing results."Roman Chair Situps How to Do It On a roman chair or glute-ham developer, sit facing the foot support with your lower legs secured under the leg pads and your butt against the larger padded support. Lean back, keeping your core engaged and your back straight, and then return to the starting position by flexing your hips. Avoid arching your back excessively or using momentum—it's all about control. Hanging Leg Raises How to Do It Hang from a pullup bar with hands slightly wider than shoulder width and palms facing forward, to start. Set your lats (pull your shoulder blades down your back) and engage your core to raise your knees to your chest. Lower with control to the hanging position. That's 1 to Add Resistance in Core Training As with any exercise, building muscle requires progressive overload—that means gradually increasing the challenge by adding resistance, upping your reps, using more weight, or shortening your rest periods. "Progressive resistance can also help eliminate plateaus by preventing your body from adapting to a certain resistance," David says. "Keep your core guessing." What Old-School Lifters Got Right About Core Training Old-school lifters didn't rely on endless crunches, yet they still built rock-solid abs. So, how did they sculpt those classic six-packs? According to David, it starts with intention—you can turn almost every movement into a core workout if you engage the right muscles. "Keeping your core engaged in any lift or workout sequence will protect your spine, improve your posture, and overall fitness," David says. "There's more to core than having a sculpted physique. A strong core is injury prevention!" The Old-School Ab Routine That Built Classic Physiques Without Crunches first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 18, 2025
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
You only need 5 moves and a resistance band to strengthen your 'deep core' muscle, build your abs and boost your balance
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. You don't need sit-ups to build a stronger core; pick up a set of the best resistance bands instead to provide constant, targeted tension to help you build more defined abs, glutes, and back muscles, all without taking up a lot of space. To demonstrate the effectiveness of a band, fat loss, and mindset coach Fernanda Shaw has created a five-move ab workout that focuses on stabilizing, sculpting, and torching your core. 'The beauty of this routine lies in the details,' says Fernanda. She has taken familiar ab moves and upgraded them using a resistance band to help boost results and keep things interesting. Take the plank — it's already a fantastic core move, but add a resistance band and perform a knee drive or side step, and you'll instantly feel the intensity shift. Fernanda recommends completing three rounds of the circuit, but feel free to add more depending on your time and fitness level. Just don't forget to brace your core throughout by 'zipping up' your abs — think drawing up your belly button and pulling it in towards your spine. You won't find minute-long planks or endless sit-ups here. Instead, this routine challenges your core with five resistance band exercises performed for 45 seconds each. The goal? Complete three rounds with as little rest as possible. If you're feeling strong, go for four. Want to stay in the zone? Plug in a pair of the best workout earbuds and roll out a cushioned yoga mat to protect your spine and wrists during the floor-based moves. Below, you'll find a breakdown of each exercise, along with a video of Fernanda demonstrating every movement with precision and control. Perform each exercise for 45 seconds. Move through all five exercises before taking a short rest and repeat. Double leg deadlift with wide leg band pull; 45 seconds Knee tuck with leg abduction; 45 seconds Reverse plank knee drive; 45 seconds Low plank with side step to squat thrust; 45 seconds Mountain climbers; 45 seconds Each exercise in this quick routine builds functional core strength that translates into better stability and balance, whether you're running, lifting weights, or simply going about your day. 'Your core is your power centre,' says Fernanda. 'Strengthen it, and you'll move stronger, stand taller, and feel unstoppable.' Ab workouts don't have to be boring or repetitive. Adding a resistance band amps up the challenge by providing consistent tension throughout each movement. This activates deeper core muscles, making your abs work harder while keeping the routine versatile and accessible. All you need is a band and a small patch of floor — perfect for home workouts or when you're on the go. Being short on time or space doesn't mean short on results. Gone are the days of endless reps with little reward. Grab yourself a resistance band, and voilà, you'll maximise results, minimize boredom, and get yourself a decent ab burn too. Slash your biological age by up to 16 years by doing this one thing during your daily walk — new study says No more crunches! Build a strong, stable core with these 5 standing ab exercises Goodbye sit-ups! This 10-minute workout will help you build a stronger core and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles
