THE PERFECT ABS WORKOUT

One of the biggest mistakes I made early in my strength training career was this: I only did situps and crunches to build up my abs. And why not, right? They’re the first two moves most people think of when it comes to core training, so they may seem like the best route to a six- pack.

Truth be told, while situps and crunches are fine, they simply don’t help you build the rock-solid core you need – or craft that six-pack. That’s because your core muscles have multiple functions. They’re capable of twisting your torso (rotation) and they can also help you resist all rotation (anti-rotation). They can tighten and protect your spine in all directions (bracing). And yes, they can help you lean forward and complete a situp, an act called spinal flexion.