CORE CARDIO

Want a chiselled middle but prefer cardio workouts?

Give kickboxing a try. It includes several motions that require you to brace your abs, like picking up your leg to kick a boxing bag or crossing your arms to quickly jab. Mountain climbers and burpees both require you to move quickly, jump, hop, knee-drive, crunch and stabilise your abs all at the same time. For these exercises, time is a better gauge than counting reps, so do 6-8 sets of 30 secs on, 30 secs off. Aim to incorporate both moves into your routine three or four times a week – as you get better, your reps will increase in each round as you become more efficient.

Cassandra Forsythe York, assistant professor of physical education and human performance at Central Connecticut State University