Strengthen Your Core With Halle Berry’s 4-Move Ankle Weight Abs Workout
Halle Berry’s fitness routine has captivated us for years. The woman kicks absolute ass in the gym, gets crafty with her weights, and knows how to stay on her fitness game no matter where she is. Recently, while stalking scrolling through her Instagram (as one does), we came across a new little routine that we will one hundred percent be implementing in the imminent future.
The queen of all things health very conveniently put this workout in her Instagram Story highlights (the red-orange one, aptly named “Fitness”), so it’s easy to find if you need a visual. And FWIW, we’d recommend the visual for—at a minimum—some inspiration. You’ll have to tap through roughly 2.5 years of content (like we said… captivated for years) but it’s all there toward the tail end; look for #FitnessFriday and “post-workout ab workout.”
You read that correctly, this is her cool down. But trust us, it won’t feel like a cool down. Here’s the breakdown: It’s a quickie workout comprising four moves that target the abs, all while using ankle weights. Yet another reason to invest in those trendy Bala bangles you’re seeing literally everywhere. Let’s get into it, shall we?
1. Ankle weighted knee ups (3 sets of 30-50 reps)
Hanging from a pull-up bar (or anything in which your feet do not touch the ground and you can hold yourself up), with ankle weights on—bring your knees to your chest for a sort of suspended reverse crunch. Do this 30 to 50 times per set, three sets total.
2. Ankle weighted cross kick ups (3 sets of 50 reps)
With your elbows elevated on a bench (or chair, couch… whatever works) in elevated plank position, with ankle weights on, bring your right knee across your body toward your left elbow, then kick your foot back behind you. Keep your core tight, and use your glutes to kick upward. Repeat fifty times, then switch sides. This makes one set; do three sets if you want to be like Halle.
3. Plank pull backs (4 sets of 20 reps)
Keep those ankle weights on! This one requires a resistance band fastened to something strong and stable that you can pull against—Halle is using a heavy gym machine as her fixture. Start in plank position, with the tethered resistance band in your right hand. Supporting your bodyweight with your left hand, row your right hand back. Return to plank position, then cross your left knee under toward your right shoulder. This completes one rep on one side. Do this 20 times on the right, and 20 times on the left to complete a set. Do four sets. (It will hurt.)
4. Weighted sit-ups with a resistance band (3 sets of 50 reps)
This exercise mimics the movement in a rowing machine. Keeping your ankle weights on and the resistance band tethered, begin in a seated position with knees slightly bent. Holding the resistance band with both hands, keeping your core tight, lean and “row” backward, pulling the resistance band as far as you can without losing your form. Sit up, and repeat. Do this 50 times to complete a set, and do three sets total.
Want more core power? Try this 10 minute sequence is no joke:
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