Just because the summer is long gone doesn’t mean your ab workouts should come to an end. With the holidays just finishing up, it’s important now more than ever to focus on your health and fitness goals. Yes, we realize that drinking spiced cocktails and eating full-course meals is far more enticing, but there has to be an appropriate balance in order to keep that belly fat at bay. We’re not suggesting you pull a Cristiano Ronaldo overnight! Take things slow and steady —Rome wasn’t built in a day and the same goes for your abs.
In an interview with BodyBuilding.Com the following fitness experts and professionals got candid about all things abs. The best part? It wasn’t some crazy step-by-step procedure! They explained their go-to workout in a way that the average man could understand — you know, like someone who doesn’t sleep, eat and breathe fitness. Does it get any better than that? We don’t think so.
Ryan Kurek, Fitness Model
“My greatest weapon in ab development has always been circuit training,” says Kurek. “I do sets that last from 20-100 reps per set, really driving the intensity up there.”
Based on Ryan’s physique, it’s safe to say you should listen to the man. No? Well, there’s plenty more tips from men of his ilk preaching different techniques if his doesn’t tickle your fancy. Remember, all body types are different and just because one workout doesn’t work for you, doesn’t mean others won’t.
Abel Albonetti, Fitness Model
“My ongoing goal is to perform weighted hanging leg raises three times per week, performing 4 sets of 15 reps each time.”
Abel’s hanging leg raises sound pretty darn intense, but, again, this will be the only ab workout your incorporating into your fitness regime. Seems nearly doable when you put it that way, right? Your abs, much like all your muscles, will build a tolerance. Take this one slow and see what happens! It’s entirely possible that by week two you’re mastering this move with the best of ’em.
Dylan Thomas, Lifestyle Transformation Coach
“Cable crunches make it easy for me to pick and choose the amount of resistance I want to use on any given set, and that helps me really push it to help get my abs where I want them to be.”
While we’re huge proponents for never having to do a single crunch again, it’s a pretty iconic exercise and as you can see above, the results speak for themselves!
Aaron Nimmon, Fitness Coach
Aaron’s approach is pretty straight forward and frankly, that’s exactly what we’re looking for in an ab workout. His go-to method includes sitting on a decline bench, holding the bar above chest level with your arms fully extended, bringing your shoulders off the bench and pulsing all the way up as you squeeze your abs up to and control down. Big, bang, boom! Follow those steps and you’ll be looking like a million, no, six million bucks in no time.
It’s not exactly the most fun topic in the world, but it will undoubtedly strengthen the overall quality of your fitness goals. Think of the abdomen as the nucleus — it sets the tone for the rest of your body. The good news is that it’s only January. You have plenty more months of hibernation ahead.
Lead Image Via Getty