Your abs aren’t a body part that need to be handled with kid gloves. Body-weight-only and high-rep workouts don’t always have to be your plans of attack when hitting the midsection. And, seriously, it’s OK to skip planks now and then.
We’re going Rocky Balboa–style on your abs with this routine designed by ISSA-certified trainer and two-time Muscle & Fitness Male Model Search competitor Robert Ciresi Jr. You’ll be doing situps and crunches, and you’ll be doing them with added resistance, as well as a tool from yesteryear that’s underutilized: the Roman Chair. But the rep counts don’t drop down too far; you’ll be living in the six-pack-friendly 15- to 25-rep range to maximize time under tension for full muscle development. (Yes, you want to develop the ab muscles, too.)
WARNING: Your abs might be in some pain while doing this workout, but it’s good pain. That’s what Rocky would have wanted.
SEE ALSO: 28 Days to Six-Pack Abs Program