I'd be lying if I told you I didn't train my core. I do it for vanity, but most importantly, I do it for strength and stability. Vanity aside, one of the reasons I revamped my ab routine was because of lower-back pain. I've been an athlete all of my life and take pride in being a healthy person. Back pain clearly didn't fit into that equation, so I sought out experts to help eliminate the problem. After speaking with a physical therapist and a sports chiropractor, they both came to the conclusion that I first needed to strengthen my core, specifically the muscles that help stabilize the back.
With all this talk surrounding the core, what exactly is it? Your core is comprised of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, internal and external obliques, multifidus, and the transverse abdominis muscles. The core muscles (get it?) help you with everyday activities like walking, twisting, bending, and tying your shoes. Your core — especially a strong one — helps you with more athletic feats like lifting weights and being able to sprint faster.
As a trainer, it's my job to educate people about their bodies, so here's one of the top things I like to share with people. Your "six-pack," aka your rectus abdominis, is what I refer to as your "superficial core." It may look good, but it doesn't necessarily indicate that you have a strong core. Your transverse abdominis muscles are your deep core muscles often referred to as a "girdle" that extend from your ribs to your pelvis, wrapping around to your spine. Fun fact: these are also the muscles recruited when pushing during labor.
With all that being said, here's one of my favorite core routines for a chiseled midsection. Disclaimer: they're a lot harder than they look.
Here's how to do each move:
Double Leg Lifts With Yoga Block
Kneeling Dumbbell Pullover
Kettlebell Around-the-Body Pass