I've watched a small handful of youtube vids but I still don't feel like I have a clear grasp. Whether it's activation by pulling your belly button into your spine, or keeping the low back arched, or some other 'most important' factor - I just don't get it. I want to tear my core up, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Does anyone feel comfortable and confident with their core exercises and is able to adequately describe the physical sensation?

My main exercise is cable crunches, there are also different variations. I keep lower back straight and focus on using just the ab muscles to pull my upper body and the added weight down.

Also I try to keep the handles near the top of my head. Works well for me

There are other exercises that you can try out, weighted leg raises, planks, weighted kicks etc.

I do decline sit-ups literally at an almost 90 degree angle. 10 sets daily with a 10 lb plate until failure.

Get into this position called tabletop. Pay attention to foot position.

https://images.app.goo.gl/ushAxUg8jiu1YmUC7



Press through the tops of your feet and lift knees about 6 inches to a foot off the ground. Exhale and pull navel to spine.

Hold position. Forces that pelvic tilt that people often miss when planking etc.

Good "priming" exercise prior to ab sets. After that hit the classics like controlled knee raises where you "scoop" your knees around.

I like to make it dynamic by raising and lowering the knees. Can also do more balance and QLs by doing bird dogs in that position.

I haven't done these in a while but I know I used to like them.I do these, though a low angle. It's a favorite actually. But this is one where I can easily get messy when tired. If I go very slow and controlled, and focus on pulling my belly button in, it's pretty good. But one of the vids I referenced also walked through the decline sit up. He said to activate the low back, keeping it arched, and when you lay back, you allow your abs to stretch, let your shoulder blades just touch the pad, and then crunch. I can do the exercise this way too, but I'm not sure it's better than the other.I'll give this a shot in my bedroom. Prolly not the gym. lol

Crow pose
Dragon flags
L sits on palms(not using handles)

Planks

Yeah hard lol. I do it at home before I go running on off days. But in terms of engagement of your abs, that is how it should feel.Always one ******* who recommends advanced exercises to a guy asking for help feeling his abs lol.

Yea word, had to google each of these.I'll never understand how static exercises could actually compare to a dynamic one.Gotcha on RC brah

Trust me

Do 1:30 planks 3 times a day everyday

And tell me you don't notice fat loss on mid section after a week

Course ,diet in check

hanging legs raises are amazing for abs but difficult to do if you’re going goes to bar

When gyms were open I would do cable crunches and really focus on sort trying to curl up into a ball at the bottom so I knew my abs were really reaching full contraction. Hard to think of another queue that might help

For cues I think of it like this.

Basically the rectus abdominus is responsible for bending the spine forward. So be aware of that.

Obliques are more about stability so planks and balance. Twisting once you get more advanced

TVA (the muscle you clench when holding in a fart) is also important and often over looked. Try to give it about 50% activation through conscious effort when training all ab moves.

I do pilates every day in the afternoon. Just lol @ endless crunches in the gym. Calorie deficit is what shows your abs, core work is what strengthens the important things.