September 07, 2010 
Crunches are for amateurs. Anyone can put their hands behind their head and lift their shoulders off the ground. Soon your abs will master this move and no matter how many times you to it, the plateau will hold you back. When this happens, you need to take your abdominal workout to a whole new level… a Hard Core level.
My new
Hard Core Abs workout DVD uses weights and innovative moves to work your abs in a whole new way in just half an hour. The bonus is that the rest of your body gets a workout as well. I selected moves that also use your other muscles to assist you in forming that 6 pack. Here is a sample that also hits your chest, inner thighs, and upper back (the opposing muscle group to the chest) for a well rounded workout that flattens your stomach.
1) Starfish Crunch:
Lay on your back with medium weights (5–8 pounds) in each hand. Straighten your legs directly over your hips, feet flexed and reaching for the sky. Hold the weights so that your palms face each other, arms straight, directly over your chest. Open your legs by dropping your feet out to the side as you open your arms into a check fly. As you bring the feet and hands back together, crunch the weights toward your shoelaces by engaging the abs and lifting the shoulders off the floor as shown. Do 20 reps.
2) Upper Back Planks:
It is important to work the upper back after working your pectorals for posture and muscle balance. Roll over on your hands and knees, and place two heavy weights (8–15 pounds) under each hand. Lift knees off the floor and balance on your toes and weights in a plank position (feet, hips and head all in one straight line). Shift your weight into your right hand as you lift your left elbow towards the sky and your left hand toward your left ribs. Lower weight to the floor and shift your weight to the left. Lift the right hand and weight towards your ribcage as you reach this elbow to the sky. Repeat for 15 reps.
Do 3 sets alternating these two moves for a hard core start to your workout!
Note: The
NikkiFitness Hard Core Abs DVD will be released right after Labor Day. To sign up on waiting list, email
nikki@nikkifitness.com. For a great workout over the long weekend, download her Fit Travel Workout at
www.nikkifitness.com.
Fitness - fit it in. Nikki
NikkiFitness, Nicole Glor, is an AFAA certified NYC personal trainer, group fitness instructor at Crunch in Manhattan and Nicole Glor, NikkiFitness is a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, DVD creator and fitness columnist for Military.com. Her workouts focus on multitasking toning and cardio intervals to cut workout time in half and boost metabolism. She has 4 DVDs on Amazon including the new Fit Travel Workout DVD, Booty Camp, Military Wife Workout and the Beach Bride Destination Wedding Workout. Newly released: Baby Bootie Camp DVD. Coming soon: Hard Core Abs. Get her newsletters, music playlists, video demos and DVDs at www.nikkifitness.com