Best Core Workouts?

O.P.H

My training has consisted of full body compound weights routine every other day with HIIT on a treadmill in between these sessions. I just want to be healthy and well built but wanna start doing "core" stuff instead of the HIIT on one of the cardio days to improve fittness and help tone my mid section.

Anyone have any good suggestions of good core workout routines that take about the 30 minutes, maybe somethin on yotube etc

TommyKnocker

O.P.H wrote: »

My training has consisted of full body compound weights routine every other day with HIIT on a treadmill in between these sessions. I just want to be healthy and well built but wanna start doing "core" stuff instead of the HIIT on one of the cardio days to improve fittness and help tone my mid section.

Anyone have any good suggestions of good core workout routines that take about the 30 minutes, maybe somethin on yotube etc

Hi O.P.H

IMHO if you are already doing the big compound lifts then your core should be well toned. If it is not visable then that is probably because you have a layer of fat covering them. The HIIT and a good diet with a daily calorie deficit should change that for you.

While I am not saying don't do direct ab work I would not give up a HIIT session for it. Again IMHO you do not need more than two 10-15 minute sessions of direct ab work each week if you are using the compound lifts, so I would tack this on at the end of one or two of my weight or HIIT sessions. Also your core is not just your abs, but your lower back & obliques, so don't neglect these areas.


Best Regards,

M

O.P.H

Well I was mainly thinking of adding it for general fittness but maybe adding on some ab work after my HIIT sessions is a better idea.

Transform

i like all of these and really use them to build up to exercises like hanging leg raises, heavy side bends, rollouts, etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTvBNEDg_oM

Banks

Is that you Transform??

AntiVirus

Banks wrote: »

Is that you Transform??

That is him, you would never think he's a level 25 Wizard on World of Warcraft!

O.P.H

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkjR6vXxjBg

What do ye make of this workout, would incorportate it after a HIIT sesssion or maybe bulk it out to do it as its own session.

mack32

Like the O.P I used to only work on the compounds but I kinda assumed that my core would take care of itself from there - it didn't.

I posted here a few weeks ago on anterior pelvic tilt and had some core work recommended to me, since then I've seen a massive improvement in the lower back pain that's been dogging me since last November!

Basically I think that core work isn't just for people looking for 6 packs, your deadlift and squat would be held back massively if you don't have the core that can handle the weight, posturally it will help too

Just my two cents...

Hanley

mack32 wrote: »

Like the O.P I used to only work on the compounds but I kinda assumed that my core would take care of itself from there - it didn't.

Thank you.

I'm getting sick of constantly saying it at this stage, but, IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE A SPECIFIC AREA YOU HAVE.TO.TRAIN.IT.

That doesn't mean you do 1,000,000 sets and reps for it, it doesn't mean you train it every day, but goddamn it if you've something you need to improve, or want to, for whatever reason, bloody train it.

TheZ

mack32 wrote: »

Like the O.P I used to only work on the compounds but I kinda assumed that my core would take care of itself from there - it didn't.

I posted here a few weeks ago on anterior pelvic tilt and had some core work recommended to me, since then I've seen a massive improvement in the lower back pain that's been dogging me since last November!

Basically I think that core work isn't just for people looking for 6 packs, your deadlift and squat would be held back massively if you don't have the core that can handle the weight, posturally it will help too

Just my two cents...

What did you do for the anterior pelvic tilt.

Transform

mack32 wrote: »

Like the O.P I used to only work on the compounds but I kinda assumed that my core would take care of itself from there - it didn't.

I posted here a few weeks ago on anterior pelvic tilt and had some core work recommended to me, since then I've seen a massive improvement in the lower back pain that's been dogging me since last November!

Basically I think that core work isn't just for people looking for 6 packs, your deadlift and squat would be held back massively if you don't have the core that can handle the weight, posturally it will help too

Just my two cents...

you might like these also -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzO2LJePltU

if you can then build to L-sits -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uR4f2Y4iKc

To be honest that for me is the progression i would like to see with clients along with some nice heavy lifting also

mack32

TheZ wrote: »

What did you do for the anterior pelvic tilt.

ive read that anterior pelvic tilt is commonly caused by a weak core, and faulty/weak glutes and tight hip flexors.

basically i just did all the stretches that transform is always recommending in that briliant vid he made, concentrating on the hip flexor (psoas) stretch. it hurt like hell but i saw immediate improvement, im doing a lot of foam rolling at the moment too, concentrating on my IT bands.

in terms of exercises, im just doing the usual suspects, a lot of plank work, sit ups, hanging knees to shoulders etc. for glute work im doing glute bridges, bird dogs and clams.

its working so far and heres hoping the improvements continue!

a lot of good info in this thread; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055810620

and this article is great too
http://figureathlete.t-nation.com/article/training/pain_free_lower_body_posture&cr=