My Favourite 20-Minute Ab Workout
I really believe that you don’t need a gym to workout. As I travel a lot for work, I often don’t have access to workout equipment. I want to share with you one of my favourite workouts to smash your core. In just 20 minutes, you can have a killer ab session. I love to follow a circuit style workout as it holds me accountable to finish all the exercises.
Below are my five favourite ab exercises. I will do each exercise for a minute, and then will give myself a minute rest after completing all five. After my break, I will follow the circuit two more times, having a break after every round.
1. Mountain climbers
I love this exercise because it doesn’t just work the core; it works your entire body. You can either work them fast for more of a cardio boost, or slower for more strength.
2. Side Plank with a Twist (both sides)
Obliques, which are the side parts of your core, are one of my favourite muscles to workout. This side plank variation gets them burning quickly. I recommend taking the movement slow to work on your stability and strength.
3. Bicycle Crunches
This exercise tackles the whole core. I personally like to do these at a slower pace to really activate my muscles, and it helps with my mind body connection.
If I were doing a more HIIT style workout, I would push these out fast to get more cardio in my workout, and to burn those extra calories.
4. Leg lifts
This exercise really targets the lower abs. I personally find this part of my core the hardest to work, and it is also my weakest. I will usually start with straight legs, but as I fatigue will go to bent knees so that I don’t jeopardise my form.
If you find the straight leg version too difficult, do the whole minute with bent knees.
