One of the hardest things about abs workouts is that it doesn't take much time at all to exhaust the muscles, so moves start to feel extremely tough after only a few minutes of training.
However, that’s also a benefit, because it means that you can get a great abs workout done in a short space of time, and you don’t really need any equipment for them.
Watch MadFit’s 10-minute abs workout
The workout contains 10 exercises, each of which you do for 45 seconds before resting for 15 seconds.
All of the moves are done in a lying position, so you don’t have to flip over to do planks at any point, and it’s a no-repeat workout, so once you’ve done an exercise once you don’t have to do it again during the session.
Lymburner does the workout with you and provides useful form tips throughout, so make sure you can see and hear her during the session to benefit from those, especially during the rest periods when she explains the next move.
You can also aim to follow Lymburner’s tempo for the workout, if you can. She sets a steady pace with each move that allows you to stay in control and maintain good form while still fitting in a lot of reps in each 45-second work period.
If you’re struggling to keep the pace or just need a break in general, then you can extend the rest periods and change the set up of the workout to do 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of rest, or 30/30 if you’re a beginner.
This is a tough workout, but one that’s also easily scaled to your ability, so I’d say it’s one that anyone can try.
Along with crunches to target the upper abs and leg raises to work the lower abs, the session also contains twisting moves to focus on the obliques.
While it doesn’t do as much work on the deep core stabilizer muscles as a session with lots of holding moves like planks, this workout will still engage your whole core, and you feel the strength benefits when doing other workouts.
Once you're comfortable with this session and want to progress, try this 15-minute Pilates abs workout. It's great for working the deep core muscles in particular.
If you want to try something a little different with your abs workout, or find that sit-ups are hurting your back, then give the Pilates ball crunch a go in your next session
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