What are everyone’s favorite exercises for building a stronger core? I doubt I will ever have a six-pack since I tend to build muscle like a German milkmaid, but I’ve heard mixed things about crunches, planks, etc. Right now, I do weighted crunches, leg lifts, and planks, but my abs rarely feel as sore as the rest of my body. Should I increase reps or change up my routine?
Thanks for any advice!
A six-pack is mostly made in the kitchen.
For core strength, I rely on planks, Russian twists, roll-ups (where you lie on your back, lift your legs straight, and reach for your toes while balancing), leg raises, and hanging leg lifts. That’s my go-to routine to stay prepared for ski season.
Hanging leg raises, ab wheel rollouts, planks, and side bends.
My core has become very strong thanks to regular Pilates sessions. I also incorporate compound movements with kettlebells into my routine.
Even though my midsection tends to store most of my extra weight, so my abs are not visible, the improvements from these two types of exercises have been remarkable in just a few months.
Try using an ab wheel, performing glute bridges with a stable core, and doing crunches with proper form. Keep in mind that a strong core doesn’t necessarily mean having a visible six-pack.
Understand how the spine moves and focus on strengthening those movements.
Every 2-3 days, I do Hanging Leg Raises, Cable Crunches, Ab Wheel, and Cable Wood Chops.
On alternate ab sessions, I include Weighted Decline Sit-ups, Dragon Flags, and Landmine Rotations. Dragon Flags and the Ab Wheel leave my abs sore.
There are many great exercises mentioned here, but I’d also recommend adding Russian Twists and heavy club swinging exercises (like those by Mark Wildman).
I work on abs every day I lift: two days focusing on flexion and two days on anti-rotation.
There are many comments about strength training your core, but just to let you know, you already have a six-pack, it’s just covered by a layer of fat.
Heavy squats and deadlifts will get the job done.
It is important to differentiate between “core” and “abs” since the core encompasses much more than just the abdominal muscles.
I include three core exercises at the end of each of my PPL sessions. I aim to target various core movements and their opposites, such as Flexion, Extension, Lateral Flexion, Rotation, Anti Extension, Anti Flexion, Anti Rotation, and Anti Lateral Flexion.
Here’s my routine:
This variety ensures I address my core from all angles and incorporate anti-movements. If I had to choose just a few, I would stick with weighted crunches, ab wheels, dragon flags, and landmine rotations.
Try the ab wheel! Check back in with us the next day. 
I used an ab wheel for the first time a few weeks ago. That evening, I felt a solid burn. But the next day, I could barely move. It’s a tough core workout.
As part of my warm-up, I do dead hangs to loosen my shoulders, finishing each round with leg lifts to failure. Once my core is activated, exercises like deadlifts, squats, and T-bar rows work it hard. That’s how I have built my six-pack.
You’re on the right track! Here are some general guidelines:
For an advanced tip:
Also, remember that you will not see visible abs if you have too much body fat, no matter how much you lift. And don’t worry if you’re not sore; lack of soreness does not mean you’re not making progress.