Well it's not like I really neglect my abs. Hell, almost every workout, every lift, every meeting at work, I make a point of contracting my abs to help build up my core. As a result, a few months ago, I stopped doing dedicated ab routines, figuring I make up for them doing squats, deadlifts, even presses where I suck that belly button right back into my spine.

And believe me, it works. I've noticed the benefits in my posture, in my core strength, and even in the lack of any lower back pains for a long, long time.

So today, after a nice hard HIIT session on the spin cycle at the gym, I figured I'd throw in a little dedicated ab work, using one of my favorite routines, the Nike Training Club app's 15-minute "Ab Burner" workout. It's 3 sets of Toe Touches, Russian Twists, Planks, and Crazy Ivans (medicine ball raise with a twist);

Toe Touches


Russian Twists


Planks (I add the rising twist)


"Crazy Ivans"


Each set takes 5 minutes. You run once through the above routines, take a 30 sec break, repeat, rest for 30, repeat.

Well I gotta' tell you, I was whipped! After the first set, my abs felt like Steven Tyler hitting the high notes of "Walk this Way"


And that was totally unexpected! Now I'm not vain enough to believe that I will ever be lean enough to have veins start bulging through my abs (but seriously, how cool would that be!), but I figured that my abs were pretty darn strong.

And so while I guess that they are, they might be strong doing the things they do most (static contractions), but maybe I need to do some ab routines routinely to build up their endurance during movements.

So there really is no let up, no backsliding, no exercise that has no benefit.....there is only one path to success.....continuous application of hard work and discipline!

Damn, I might have to add pushups back in as well!


Have a great night Spark friends!