Perfect 5 Minute Ab Workout

Author

Men's Fitness Staff
March 03, 2025

An Ab Workout is very personal and notoriously hard for trainers to put together. Some are too easy, some are way too hard, and it’s tricky to tread the fine line between progress and pain. To find the perfect abs challenge, we put together this for inspirationWork straight through for five minutes: 30 seconds of a static hold, then 30 seconds of a high-intensity exercise that targets your core. All the exercises will test your core, but returning to the hollow hold each time demands willpower and focus – you have to pay strict attention to form.

Work your way up. If 30 seconds sounds too intense to begin with, then try 20 seconds or even 10 for every move for your first few ab workouts. You’ll know after the first attempt where you’re at, then remember that level and try to build upon it the next time. You can also mix and match different exercises – the key is keeping the hollow holds as the basis of your ab workout.

THE HOLLOW VICTORY WORKOUT

Hollow Hold

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Plank

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Hollow Hold

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Mountain Climbers

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Hollow Hold

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Toe Touch

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Hollow Hold

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Walking Plank

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Hollow Hold

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

Bicycle Crunch

Time: 30 sec | Rest: 0 sec

HOW TO DO THE AB WORKOUT

Hollow hold

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 secLie on your back with legs together and extended, with arms extended behind your head and lower back pressed into the floor. Raise legs and arms about 15cm off the ground and lift shoulders as well (see above). Keep your core engaged and lower back pressed into the floor throughout.

Plank

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 secLie on your front, then raise your body supporting yourself on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Engage your core and glutes to align your body in a straight line from shoulders to ankles.

Hollow hold

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 sec

Mountain climbers

Time :30 sec Rest:0 secLie on your front, then raise your body supporting yourself on your hands and the balls of your feet, with arms extended and hands under shoulders. Drive one knee at a time to your chest, keeping your back straight. Continue at pace.

Hollow hold

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 sec

Toe touch

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 secLie on your back, extend your legs and point your toes at the ceiling. Slowly raising your back off the floor, reach up with both arms to touch your toes, then return your back to the floor.

Hollow hold

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 sec

Walking plank

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 secAdopt the plank position. Keeping your core tight and hips in line with shoulders and ankles, push up to the high plank position one hand at a time, finishing with arms extended and hands under shoulders. The slower you complete this the better. Alternate your leading hand.

Hollow hold

Time: 30 sec Rest: 0 sec

10 Bicycle crunch

Time: 30 sec Rest : 0 secLie on your back with hands touching the sides of your head, elbows pointing sideways. Raise both legs off the ground, then slowly bring one knee up towards your chest, the opposite elbow towards the knee. Alternate sides.

How Often To Workout Abs

You can do this ab workout daily, even twice daily. Your core is your foundation and is used extensively in all movements, so it’s practically impossible to overtrain. However, to save you going crazy, every other day will keep your core strong.