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What are some good core exercises for a beginner?

Posted on 5/29/21 at 9:47 am
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 9:47 am
Mainly looking at the abdominal and oblique muscles

I've neglected these in my gym routine and need to start making these a bi weekly portion of my workout
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
18347 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 10:02 am to
Keep it simple to start. Crunches, planks, Russian twists.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 10:18 am to
I've been doing crunches my last 3 trips to the gym

I've never done Russian twists but it looks like something I could add to the routine
Posted by Dixie Normus
Earth
Member since Sep 2013
2641 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 10:47 am to
5x10 sit-ups. When you complete a full 5x10 without any failure, grab a 5lb plate and hold it behind your head for weighted sit-ups on the next set and just keep progressing.

Hanging leg raises are my ab go to though. Gets some forearm/grip benefit from the dead hang, hip flexors get worked, and shreds your core of some right. Can also do a variant to involve more obliques by doing side angled raises.
Posted by DeafJam73
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2010
18533 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 10:56 am to
Reverse crunches and dead bug. I don’t find that they take a lot of expertise to perform.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 11:35 am to
quote:

Hanging leg raises are my ab go to though. Gets some forearm/grip benefit from the dead hang, hip flexors get worked, and shreds your core of some right. Can also do a variant to involve more obliques by doing side angled raises.

I'm intending to add this to the routine once I get more advanced. I used to do them frequently and they worked great.
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
18347 posts
Posted on 5/29/21 at 1:44 pm to
Forgot to add, bicycle crunches are the best exercise I've found for abs. Works damn near every part and they're simple.
Posted by Oilfieldbiology
Member since Nov 2016
37606 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 6:14 am to
God I hate bicycle crunches so much. My hip flexors are just so weak compared to the rest of my core. But they really are a phenomenal exercise. Pair those with planks and an oblique exercise like side crunches or side planks and damn you’re core will be exhausted.
Posted by Andychapman13
Member since Jun 2016
2728 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 7:50 am to
Roman Deadlifts-single leg, you don’t even need weights.
Dead bugs as mentioned above
Bear crawls
Inchworms
Walking lunges
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
8823 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 9:07 am to
Dead bugs and variants almost all you really need.

Weighted carries
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 9:22 am to
quote:

Bear crawls

Haven't done those since high school but a damn good workout
Posted by Andychapman13
Member since Jun 2016
2728 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 10:02 am to
Don’t shy away from stuff that seems to be more of a leg exercise. 80% of your core is your hips and lower back. Some of the best ab work is primarily leg movement stuff.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 10:25 am to
Yeah and I really need to add some things like bear crawls and burpees that will get me out of my comfort zone if I'm going to get where I want to be

I've been doing mostly steady state cardio and it's too easy. I can knock out an hour session with no problem and I'm out of shape.
Posted by Tiger in Gatorland
Moonshine Holler
Member since Sep 2006
9087 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 10:28 am to
barbell rollout
ab wheel
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 11:01 am to
Crunch, crunch w/ twist, V sit-ups

Do 20 ea as a warmup every day
Posted by Andychapman13
Member since Jun 2016
2728 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 12:41 pm to
quote:

I've been doing mostly steady state cardio and it's too easy. I can knock out an hour session with no problem and I'm out of shape.

No doubt! I run 70-80 miles week, but gotta throw in a couple core workouts/week to see any improvement in speed at this point in the game.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 5/30/21 at 2:58 pm to
quote:

Don’t shy away from stuff that seems to be more of a leg exercise. 80% of your core is your hips and lower back. Some of the best ab work is primarily leg movement stuff

I added hanging leg raises today and glad I did. Small steps in the right direction. This will now be part of my core routine each time.

Increased crunches from 100 to 120 today also with 4 sets of 30. I'll look to increase that volume after a couple more workouts.
Posted by TBoy
Kalamazoo
Member since Dec 2007
23884 posts
Posted on 5/31/21 at 8:49 am to
My daughter hooks her laptop to the TV and does this ab workout every night. I did it with her a couple times and it certainly will strengthen the core. I’m convinced the soundtrack will be the walk up music for satan in hell.
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
31575 posts
Posted on 5/31/21 at 12:35 pm to
Situps
Hanging leg raises
L-sit
Hollow body holds and rocks
Arch body holds

Once you get good at those you can add in lots of med ball throws for rotation.
Posted by Popths
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2016
3986 posts
Posted on 5/31/21 at 2:26 pm to
I never add extra weight to ab workouts. I’m trying to cut, not get thick mid section.
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