- Halle Berry works her core in ‘every’ workout.
- She credits martial arts, strength training, and ab training with helping her get the most ripped abs ever.
- Lately, she’s been using dumbbells, wrist weights, and ankle weights to make her go-to core moves more challenging.
I grew up doing gymnastics, so core training has always been a big part of my workout routine. But after having kids, I had to work harder than ever to maintain flat, toned abs.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you always have to switch things up. If you don’t do that, you won’t see change or definition. It’s a never-ending process, but my trainer, Peter Lee Thomas, is always trying new core exercises.
I have been doing a fair amount of crunches and sit-ups for many years, but ahMartial arts has changed my abs over the past few years.. Depending on the week, 30-50% of my workouts are focused on mixed martial arts (MMA), such as Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Capoeria. When you practice MMA, you are using your core. forever. You’re constantly straining, twisting, and bending. This is a recipe that will help you get really strong abs.
But that was until last fall, when I was preparing for the film. Bruises, My goal was to build visible, muscular abs.
I had to look (and perform) like a professional MMA fighter, so in addition to practicing MMA for four hours every day, I also did about 45 minutes of general strength training and 15 minutes of work. just to my abs. We made the kitchen sink the focal point, and I can tell you it took some serious effort.
Favorite spin gear perfect for core work
ankle weight
wrist weight
foam dumbbells
What also really made a difference was that instead of doing sit-ups with body weight, I added weight to everything. As a result, my abs really bulged.
The daily 15-minute core work included sit-ups using a medicine ball and dumbbells, leg raises using ankle weights, and hollow holds using dumbbells, wrist weights, and ankle weights. The added resistance makes an already hard workout even harder, and little by little, I developed more defined, hardcore abs than ever before.
After wrapping bruise, My training method has calmed down a bit. I settled into a routine of 4 hours of training per week. Approximately 50-70% strength training.
Since I no longer needed to look like a professional fighter, my biggest goal was to focus on full body training and maintain optimal health and overall fitness. I wasn’t too worried about maintaining the ripped abs I had last fall. (This is especially true now that I am exercising at home.)
These days, my midsection may not have as much muscle as it did in the photo, but that doesn’t have to be the case. But many of the common strength exercises I still do (such as weighted step-ups with dumbbells, wrist weights, or ankle weights) engage my core well and keep my core strong and flat. .
Additionally, I still sprinkle in some martial arts whenever possible (once you try it, you’ll feel like you’ve been bitten by a bug. You can’t stop!) and include a move or two specifically for ab muscles. Incorporate weights (such as planks and lying leg raises with ankles) into every workout.
Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Halle, now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, recently… Les Spins, a community of stories, conversations, and products for those seeking health and wellness.in her weekly magazine W.H. In her columns and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares her personal views on health and fitness, as well as the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously healthy figure.
