Let’t talk about the core
While studying to become a personal trainer my mentor had a great way to keep core training at the front of our minds. If we wrote CORE at the top of any paper, assignment, or test we got extra credit. While we would be teaching or taking classes if the instructor said Core (in any explanation or cue) we all chanted as a group CORE right back at them! This has stuck with me forever, and has heavily influenced my love of core training. CORE! (Thanks Geno!)
Core training is and always will be all the rage. This is because so many people desire the flat abs or 6-pack look. I am going to start off this with busting an old school myth. You do NOT get a six pack from endless crunches. Planks are great, but they are also not going to give you a 6 pack.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Abs are made in the kitchen” and that is partly accurate, but not entirely. You can’t eat or diet your way to a 6 pack either. There are so many pieces of training that go into creating that cut 6-pack look. That is not what I am sharing with you today. But here is a great post from Precision Nutrition that explains the trade-offs for the lean physique look:
The Cost of Getting Lean by Precision Nutrition
TRUTH BOMB: I do not have a 6-pack. Never have, and honestly I do not have the desire to train and eat specifically for a 6-pack. I VALUE the strength and function of my core, my whole core! Not just the rectus abdominis that makes up the 6-pack muscles. Here is a visual for you
vs. 
There’s a mini anatomy lesson for yah 😉
Side note: I am not saying that you cannot desire a 6-pack. Those individuals who train and prep their food especially for this purpose have a lot of control and dedication. Some individuals also have great genetics that help them out. If that is your aim, I’m probably not the trainer for you.
That being said here is a video of 7 moves you should be doing instead of crunches. I am not claiming that these are the BEST ab exercises ever. I am only showing you 7 of my current favorites. Try them out and you will start to experience a stronger core!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Didltcp6k
The Moves:
- V-Sit
- Deadbug/Leg Drops
- Slo-Mo Russian Twist
- Plank Variations (Anti-Rotation/Rotation)
- Single Leg Bridges
- Superman/Superpersons
- Stairs/Sprints***Not shown in Video
You can do all of these moves in one workout. You can sprinkle them throughout your full body strength training. Mix and match however you’d like. Some assembly required =)
For simplicity sake I do these exercises primarily for time:
Start with 30 Seconds of each move and progress up to performing the moves for longer.
You can do multiple sets of shorter rounds or challenge you body to long rounds. Be aware of your form and if you’re getting sloppy it’s time to stoppy 😉 Poor form does not help you.
Happy CORE Training =)