Questions tagged [core]

The deep muscle layers in the spine and central torso regions. Core muscles are important for posture, balance, stability, and power transfer.

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Are my exercises and their reps and sets good for fat loss?

I've organized my workout into 6 days: 2 sessions of upper-body workouts, lower-body workouts, and core workouts. The 7th day is a rest day. I am working out at home so these are my options. Please ...
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How to incorporate hip and core strength work in my workouts

I am a little confused about the best way to incorporate some hip and core strength work in my workout regimen. I am 48, and I am lifting weights 3-4 times per week mostly to gain muscle. So I have a ...
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Hanging knee raise, lift with abs or with knees?

When I look up how to do hanging knee raises, almost all fitness sources say "lift your knees past 90 degrees to your chest", while a few rare ones say "use your abs to lift your knees&...
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Which is better for core strength: cycling or running?

The question title is fairly self-explanatory. I used to be moderately fit because I cycled to the office, but two years of home working has seen my fitness levels plummet. I recently injured my back ...
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Need progressively harder isolation core & abs exercises

For context, I can do about 40 strict form crunches, 12-13 pullups, 30+ pushups. I've seen a little improvement in definition but not a lot. I have a resistance band and pullup bar that I could use. ...
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Are situps considered a good core workout?

I was going through an article : https://www.verywellfit.com/top-best-ab-exercises-1230723 This seems to be a reputable website. I was surprised the trainer didn't mention situps in it. What could ...
Amit wadhwa's user avatar
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Do glutes necessarily posteriorly tilt the pelvis while extending the hips?

Here it is written that: With the femur well stabilized, activation of the hip extensors can also posteriorly tilt the pelvis. For simplicity, let's focus on glutes maximum. My questions are: If we ...
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Core exercise for Planche

I have been into bodyweight/calisthenichs training for 1 year now. After working on basic exercises (+30 pull ups/+40 dips/50 pushups/10ish handstand pushups to wall), I decided to start training for ...
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Is there any workout exercise for reducing belly fat/increasing abs strength which can be done without hurting Spine or lower back? [duplicate]

Please provide some information on some abs workout which can be done at home preferably without using equipment, and they are not harmful to spine/back/abdomen and are safe to do without trainer ...
lousycoder's user avatar
1 vote
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How hip adductors stabilize core in case of weak abs

In the case of weak lower abs I always read that a common compensation pattern consists of hip adductors taking over core stabilization, that works harder to stabilize the core. But I genuinely don't ...
Aleix's user avatar
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How can I tell the difference between bad ergonomics and weak muscles?

I'm 50 and I've always struggled with bad posture, although I've never really had any negative symptoms other than looking bad. But I know that posture and core strength are supposed to be important ...
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Do twisting crunches develop the spinal erectors?

For the last year and a half I have been ditching direct core work and instead only did deadlifts, squats, weighted dips and barbell rows. Now I tried doing some crunches and sie crunches out of ...
Name's user avatar
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Core Workout - efficacy of doing Pallof Press and Cable Woodchopper exercises together

I'm looking to build the frontal (rectus) and oblique (side) abs a bit with standing exercises. I've started doing cable woodchoppers (chest height) and pallof press' (with legs practically together). ...
Matt Canada's user avatar
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How do I learn to control and improve awareness of my core?

I’ve been trying to regain awareness and control over my core since cancer treatment 4 years ago that involved several abdominal/pelvic surgeries. I’m struggling with basic core exercises like Pelvic ...
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I don't feel my ab workouts

I've (F22, BMI=22.1) been doing a 10 min flat ab and slim waist workout I found on youtube, every day, for the past month. Although it has proven to be effective and I have lost a significant amount ...
ceci cela's user avatar
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How can I improve my renegade row?

I've been using the ASICS Studio app for workouts recently. I've seen an improvement in my ability to do several exercises, but one of the ones that I still struggle with is the renegade row. I'm not ...
Thomas Owens's user avatar
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Do weightlifting belts improve or hurt long-term development of core strength?

Weightlifting belts are reportedly used by a quarter of recreational weight trainers, and their benefits to lifting performance is supported by a large body of research. The data suggest that belts ...
POD's user avatar
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Are the basic barbell lifts not enough for the "core"?

One viewpoint is that the basic barbell lifts train the "core" sufficiently. And indeed it seems reasonable that anyone who can squat and deadlift large weights have very strong core muscles. Dr. ...
Andy's user avatar
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When and how often should I train my core/abs?

About me I'm 16, 181 cm. I don't really know the max weight I can lift, because I only have 5 kg dumbells at home. Can do 7-9 pull-ups. For the past two or so months I have been training at home ...
Kedel Mihail's user avatar
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Abbreviated core workout routine

I am looking for a very abbreviated (3-4 sets per week, to failure) core workout routine. I have access to free weights and not much else. I can deadlift (within reason - see background) and I don't ...
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McGill "Big 3" Exercises - The Side Plank

Dr. Stuart McGill has the "Big 3" core exercises that develop core strength without stressing your spine. For each exercise, a rep is a 10-second hold. In his book "The Back Mechanic" he says it's ...
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core strengthening for weak lower back

I have a weak L3 (the 3rd disc up from my pelvis) - that is, it is given to pressing against the nerve, causing discomfort (no actual pain, as yet) locally and, when I don't pay attention for long ...
Matt W's user avatar
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Best bicep improvement for a skinny 14-year old?

I'm a 14-year old guy, and I'm also skinny. My current routine is: 1) 20 mins treadmill (3-4 mp/h, incline 1.0) 2) 35 push-ups (sets of five with 3 min breaks in between) 3) 25 reps on each arm of ...
M. Bhura's user avatar
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757 views

Is planking with a weightlifting belt beneficial?

I have anterior pelvic tilt so whenever I do any sort of ab work, my psoas muscle takes over and I feel intense pain in my lower back. I have tried to activate my abs by planking but my stomach sags ...
fs2ly's user avatar
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What sports or activities work out abs/core intensely without specifically being an ab/core exercise?

I enjoy exercising, but far more when it's an activity like running, biking, rowing, yoga, rock climbing, etc... It's ok with me if those activities take place in a gym, like treadmills, just not a ...
jb510's user avatar
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Any Sledgehammer Tire target alternatives - Ballistic/Extremely High Density rubber OR Plyometric Foam? [Not exercise alternatives Pls] [duplicate]

Hi Can someone provide alternative to a tire for sledgehammer swing? I currently have a sledge hammer but cannot accommodate a tire in my home. I am thinking of using this - Can anyone comment? ...
Hi X Dmf's user avatar
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Help me making my next training plan [closed]

I finding good training for my own. STATE: Started home traning a week ago. (daily 90 min of traning) I have not fixed training set for me yet. This period, only just doing as I can do. The first ...
user1101221's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
182 views

Wallsit - Any Benefit to the Wall?

Is there any reason to do wallsits on a wall if you can do them without with perfect form? It seems like not using a wall would achieve the same thing with more stabilization (assuming you can bend ...
VSO's user avatar
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Is it possible/useful to create core soreness?

I workout my core and my abs everyday for a year now and, even on heavy workout days I have never experienced core soreness. To be complete, I have felt abs soreness for a couple of minutes, but ...
GlinesMome's user avatar
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Did I tear some kind of core supportive muscle / what injury did I do to myself? [closed]

I've just had a really nasty pain in my side, on the pelvis/pelvic girdle. It feels like it was related to some core supportive muscle. While it's mostly resolved within 72 hours, I'm curious what I ...
Stilez's user avatar
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1 answer
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Define the upper abs only workouts-low body fat

I want to define the upper abs, I am interested only in workout programs. My food intake is ok but I do not think I am doing proper a workout; I don't have much bodyfat and I want to focus only on ...
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6 votes
2 answers
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Can an intense core/abs workout gives you diarrhea?

I follow a pretty intense core/abs workout since 15 days and I have diarrhea since 12-13 days, can it be linked? I mean, does such kind of workout compress so much the bowel that it 'liquify' its '...
GlinesMome's user avatar
4 votes
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Abdominal role in squats

Many people, websites,videos and wikipedia imply that squats, specially weighted squats train the abdominal muscles. But squatting without contracting my belly makes it that the abdominal pressure ...
Ekaen's user avatar
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Stomach Vacuum/Cat vomit: next step for more permanent results

I'm doing the cat vomit exercise for more than one year now (I do 10 reps of 16s everyday, my waistline goes from 78 cms to 72 cms when I do the stomach vacuum vertically). I look for more 'permanent'...
GlinesMome's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
157 views

Rectus abdominis vs oblique muscles

Assuming one trains both but wants to emphasize one more than the other, with more frequency and higher intensity, will obliques or the rectus abdominis improve more the strength of heavy pulls. ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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How few weight lifting exercises can I do and still get a good workout of the back muscles?

I have just spent 1 month working out with weights in a gym. Currently I am doing pull downs (not yet strong enough for pull ups) and seated rowing for my back. The seated rowing seems to be involving ...
Andy's user avatar
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3 votes
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Exercises for Abs (Chronic Neck Pain)

I have a chronic neck pain that is always in my left lower neck/shoulder area (left trap). Doing standard core workouts (i.e. situps, crunches, oblique crunches) intensify that pain to the point I ...
Jun Kang's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
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Forcefully exhaling during heavy squats

On max effort days when I lift weights at ~95% or more of whatever I'll achieve on that day, I am unable to keep my breath in the middle of the concentric part. A recent attempt at 130 kg @ 87 kg, ...
Reti43's user avatar
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Any advantages of using a Power Plate for planks?

My gym instructor told me that doing planks with elbows on the vibrating Power Plate gives better results than a normal plank on the floor... Does anyone know if there's some truth to it or is it just ...
Kookaburra's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
5k views

Do planks tighten up hip flexors? (Back pain when doing core exercises)

So I have really tight hip flexors and weak glutes, abductors and abs. I've been trying to fix this problem by working my glutes, hamstrings and abductors but I want to slowly start doing ab ...
48502104's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
57 views

Will core training in off days be helpful or harmful to my main training? [closed]

I'm doing stronglifts 5x5. I workout at Mon, Wed, Fri. I realized from my previous program that my core was very weak in compraed to other parts. If I added extra core workout in the rest days would ...
Esqarrouth's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
863 views

Benefits of Overhead KB Walks

Can someone explain to me cumulative benefits of the following: Friend and I went for a Saturday walk at a park. We each had a kettle bells and they weighed 35lbs and 55lbs respectively. The track ...
Hituptony's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
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Running-101: For beginners who would like to give up smoking

I am a computer science major. All I do is stay seated and code, 24/7, which made me a nocturnal,obnoxious, and anti-social creature. I want to make a change in my sedentary lifestyle. I want to run ...
Elijah Dayan's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
234 views

short exercises to improve core strength, balance and flexibility?

Now that I've hit middle age, I find that my back is often stiff in the mornings and that it doesn't wear off until mid-afternoon. I also discovered I can't do the Fullerton "stand test" (sit down on ...
Bob Tway's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
153 views

How to tighten core during normal activities?

I work out regularly but want to improve my core/ab strength. During the day I sit on a yoga ball or stand. All to often my stomach muscles relax when I grow lax. I searched for an ab belt that ...
roscoe_casita's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
107 views

What core strengthening exercises put the least pressure on the lower back? [closed]

I'm looking for effective exercises to strengthen the entire core while minimizing stress and flexing on the lower back. No exercises recommended here will be performed without a doctor's approval so ...
user18963's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
60 views

How to use less abs/core in this exercise?

I don't have a pullup bar and don't intend to get one at my current apartment What the apartment hand is this: Except it has two separate unconnected handles instead of a close grip handle Aside ...
LongApple's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can ab wheel replace crunches?

Are an ab wheel and plank exercises a good replacement for the good old but boring crunches? What effects are better and what it cannot replace?
diredragon's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

How do you use a wobble board for strengthening core muscles

I bought a wobble board for strengthening core muscles, I believe mine to be weak on the basis that I suffer from backache, find sit-ups difficult etcetera. But having bought it I find it doesn't ...
Paul Taylor's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Core training on "rest" days

I started a gym routine 2 months ago consisting of just Pull-ups, Bench presses, Squats(with barbell), Dead-lifts and Military Presses And for the abs Hanging L raises, Russian twists and planks. I ...
Mithir's user avatar
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