I haven’t always been big on fitness or healthy eating, but that all changed when I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis a few years ago. Getting strong and taking care of my body became essential if I wanted to feel my best and keep inflammation at bay.
My go-to workout routine focuses on low-impact training like swimming and pilates (and of course the hot girl walk), but since I’ve started strength training I’ve been thinking about trying to get some visible abs. To do that I’d need to keep my body fat very low and commit to a rigorous training program, but this YouTube viral video by Rowan Row claims to offer a way to sculpt your abs in under three weeks. Is it true?
While I was confident my body could handle the challenge and committed to doing the routine for 21 days, this isn’t for most people. It’s always best to build strength gradually to avoid injury or fatigue. If you’re new to fitness, try this beginner’s core workout instead, and remember to leave at least a day between repeating the routine.
How to do Rowan Lowe’s abs routine
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The 13 minute video required no equipment other than a yoga mat and was easy to follow – similar to the mat pilates videos I’ve done before, but much faster paced.
There’s no warm-up or stretching at the end. This video is 13 minutes of nonstop ab work, definitely working your core. I found myself repeating the mantra “hard things can be done” as I did hollow holds and sped along on my bike.
The workout is comprised of 12 moves designed to work the entire abdomen with an emphasis on dynamic movement and minimal crunches, without putting strain on the neck like some of the more abdominal-focused Pilates moves and sit-ups.
My Results
I didn’t have high expectations when I decided to do this workout for three weeks, but I did hope to see some physical changes in those 21 days. Here’s everything that actually happened.
1. My posture is better than ever
The biggest change I’ve seen, and what surprised me the most, is how this training has helped improve my posture. I always sit in a hunched “shrimp” position at work, so I’m always working on strengthening my core and improving my posture.
After 3 weeks of Row’s ab workouts, I noticed that sitting up straight became easier and more intuitive. I’ve been doing mat and reformer Pilates for over 2 years, and consistently doing this video has made a huge difference in my posture.
2. After two weeks, the “11 lines” began to appear.
Abdominal fat can prevent your abs from becoming more visible, even when you train your abs, and this is true for most people, even if they have a healthy body fat percentage.
I was already relatively lean and after 18 days I was beginning to see the oblique contours of my “11 line abs” – but only if I held my body in a certain way.
3. It was easy to stay consistent
I try to fit in some exercise each week, even if it’s just a walk after dinner, but sometimes it can feel like a chore. This video was dynamic and short, so I was able to easily fit it into my schedule and it never felt like a chore.
