You just crushed the Women’s Health Flex Challenge—go you! What’s next? How about a 7-day core-sculpting challenge? Enter: The Women’s Health+ Ultimate Abs Challenge, a week-long program that alternates between strength training and cardio sessions to level up your abs.
Sign up for Women’s Health+ Premium membership now to unlock the exclusive Ultimate Abs Challenge, unlimited access to WomensHealthMag.com, a 1-year print subscription, 450+ streaming workouts on the All/Out Studio app, and more.
Why dedicate a week to ab workouts? “Having a strong core is important because you use it every single day,” says WH+ Ultimate Abs Challenge trainer Claudette Sariya, CPT, a NASM-certified personal trainer and alum of the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Strength in Diversity initiative. You automatically brace your abs when doing daily tasks, from carrying groceries to picking up kiddos. So, having a strong core ensures you can do these functional movements easily and pain-free.
Now, it’s time to jump right into the Women’s Health+ Ultimate Abs Challenge. Step one? Sign up for your WH+ Premium membership for access to all the programming outlined below. (Your purchase also unlocks our full library of WH Challenges and Guides.)
Join the Women’s Health+ Ultimate Abs Challenge
This comprehensive training plan takes the guesswork out of planning an entire week of workouts. The program alternates between 20-minute core-focused strength training sessions and 30 to 45 minutes of low- or moderate-intensity, low-impact cardio of your choice, like walking, jogging, or spinning to let your body recover while improving your cardiovascular health.
Here’s what’s in store for each session:
20-Minute Bodyweight Rotational Workout
20-Minute Bodyweight Flexion Workout
20-Minute Dumbbell Rotational Workout
20-Minute Dumbbell Flexion Workout
And if you think a core workout program must mean endless crunches? Think again! Each exercise routine is designed to hit all the different muscles in your core (transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, and obliques) through a variety of movements and includes follow-along videos that show you exactly how to do each move with proper form to maximize your gains.
Best part: These workouts can easily be incorporated into your regular exercise routine beyond this week-long challenge. To mix things up and continue seeing results, Sariya recommends alternating the abs workouts with strength training workouts instead of cardio workouts the week after completing this challenge.
Join WH+ To Access The Ultimate Abs Challenge Now
Follow This 7-Day Schedule To Unlock Results
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete each of the four challenge workouts on nonconsecutive days, with a cardio workout or active rest day in between. (Click on the links above and join WH+ Premium to access the workouts.)
EQUIPMENT: 1 light dumbbell and a yoga mat
TIME: Each challenge workout takes 20 minutes, and each cardio workout takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your fitness level and goals.
Ready to get stronger? Grab your dumbbells and mat and let’s crush those core strength goals!
Addison Aloian is the associate health & fitness editor at Women’s Health, where she writes and edits across the health, weight loss, and fitness verticals. She’s also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City—she recently completed her first half-marathon—and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women’s Health, her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.
Read the full article here
