Building abdominal muscles is not something that can be done overnight. Both fitness and eating habits require consistency, and results will vary from person to person.
That being said, doing the best ab exercises regularly is a good place to start and will help build definition in and around the muscles in this area.
Thankfully, an ab workout worth your time doesn’t necessarily require weights. Of course, if you own one of the best kettlebells, you may want to incorporate weight into your core training to increase the resistance.
However, in this workout, you can start strengthening your abs simply by performing Kayla Itsines’ 7-move bodyweight routine.
Check out Kayla Itsines’ 7 Move Abs Workout
Ms. Itsines calls this an “intense ab” workout, and when professional fitness trainers say this, we don’t mean it lightly. So be prepared to properly burn your abs and work up a sweat.
The number of reps will vary for each exercise, but the main thing to note before you start is that there are seven exercises in total and you should aim to complete the workout in three to five rounds. You can also follow Itsines’ demonstrations and practice the techniques before you start.
The combination of exercises in this workout ensures that all major muscle groups within your core are worked. This includes the rectus abdominis, obliques, transversus abdominis, and even some hip flexors.
Each exercise in the routine has different benefits, from improving core stability and coordination to building abdominal muscle strength and endurance. Also, some people use core and abdominal muscles interchangeably, but there is a difference.
The abdominal muscles form part of your core. This is a group of muscles in your midsection that are responsible for connecting your upper and lower body. A stronger core improves your posture, reduces your risk of injury during workouts, and makes everyday tasks like walking and lifting easier.
Additionally, this workout incorporates both static and dynamic movements, giving you a holistic approach to building strong, defined abs. A few rounds of this routine will tax your muscles, and the high-intensity format will also increase your heart rate.
This is important if you want to develop visible abs. The only way to show off your toned abs is to reduce the amount of fat around your stomach. And since you can’t pinpoint fat, you need to do workouts like this one that get your heart rate up to burn energy and boost your metabolism.
Ab workouts can help strengthen your core, but they’re only part of the equation when it comes to achieving visible abs. Targeted exercise combined with a healthy diet, aerobic exercise, and adequate rest and recovery will give you the best results.