Choosing Abdominal Exercise Equipment for Your Home Gym

Work the core! That’s what you see on TV, read on the internet, and hear in the gym. And yes, you DO need to work your core in order to support your back and just about every other movement you’d like to make on a daily basis. However, the harsh reality is that doing a zillion sit-ups or crunches, or holding mega-planks, simply isn’t enough – or even right. You need to treat your abdominal muscle groups like every other muscle group – with care and a targeted strengthening plan. So what type of equipment might you need?

BOSU Ball

The BOSO ball is a professional balance trainer you can use for a wide variety of exercises, including core work. Believe it or not, you can use BOTH sides of the ball for different exercises (BOSU actually stands for Both Sides Up). Check out this quick video by Natalie Jill Fitness showing you some ab and core exercises with both sides of the ball.

Traditional Dumbbells

There’s a lot to be said for the traditional dumbbell when it comes to strengthening your abdominal muscles. Russian twists, bear crawls, get ups, farmer’s carry exercises, waiter’s walk drills, and many other exercises force you to stabilize with your core muscles. The added resistance from the weight causes you to work even harder. You don’t need to buy a complete collection of dumbbells, either. To start, pick up one or two – one lighter and one heavier. You can do a lot with just a little and complete your collection later on. This Men’s Fitness article will help you work that six-pack.

TRX Tools

The TRX Home Kit is incredibly easy to anchor in a doorway and is great for strengthening the entire body – the core included. TRX is growing in popularity and you can easily find dozens of different exercises to work your core and abs from all different angles. One of our favorites is this No More Sit-Ups article from Daily Burn, with 7 new moves that will help you to kiss the traditional crunch goodbye.

Not sure how to get started when it comes to core work? That’s a great question to ask your personal trainer. Not sure what equipment you really want or need? Stop into your local Push Pedal Pull store and check a few pieces out. We’re here to help – anytime!