Core training is one of the integral parts of any good workout program. Without a strong core, the rest of your lifts will begin to suffer. Too many people hit the gym on a regular basis only to do the same old crunch after crunch after crunch. Sadly, this rarely gets them the results they’re looking for.

Wondering how you can take your progress further? Try any one of the following tweaks to see superior results.

Destabilize Your Body

As you go about your core training, as often as possible, focus on destabilizing the body. This means using an exercise ball, doing a movement on one leg, or using a bosu ball to throw your body slightly off balance.

When you aren’t stabilized, the muscles deep within your core will have to work harder.

Hit Your Core From All Angles

There’s one thing you must know about the core muscles and that is that they adapt very quickly. So if you are working your core using the same exercises each and every day, it won’t be long before you stop seeing results.

By switching things up and working them from a new angle, you’ll see superior progress. Try and use exercises that hit them from all angles so that every single muscle fiber gets worked. Don’t rely on the same crunching movement pattern or you’ll struggle to see balanced results.

Slow And Steady Should Be Your Mantra

As you go about doing your core exercises, slow and steady should be your mantra. Avoid rushing through the movement pattern. The slower you move, the more tension you’ll be placing on your muscles throughout the movement pattern.

Rushing through core work will only bring momentum into play and reduce the overloading stimulus being placed on the abs.

It’s All About The Breathing

Another tweak to make to your core workouts is to really focus on your breathing at all times. Breathe out as you contract the abs and in as you relax back down to the starting position.

Failing to breathe properly will result in less force being generated and thus, lower overall results.

Many people hold their breath while doing their ab workouts and this makes it very hard to generate the force necessary for maximum stretch improvement and definition.

Don’t Forget Your Spinal Erectors

Finally, one major tweak you’ll want to make to your entire core workout routine is adding in some back extensions. Too many people think that "core" just means abdominal work. While the abs are definitely an important part of the core, they are not all that matters.

Hitting your spinal erectors will help you focus on the back of your core, giving you well-balanced strength that ensures you stay injury free and can maximize all the rest of your lifts in the future.

So keep these tweaks in mind next time you’re about to hit the gym for a core workout. Are there any adjustments you could be making?

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