3 Tips for a Strong Core with Trainer Matt Tralli 

From squats and deadlifts to picking up your kids, every movement you make throughout the day involves your core. Your abdominals, or the wall of muscles that wrap around your midsection, are responsible for keeping your upper and lower body moving effectively, as well as preventing back injuries, keeping you balanced, and providing stability as you move. Not only is a strong core needed to function properly, but a tight, toned stomach is often seen as the ultimate accomplishment when it comes to an impressive physique. 

To get you the best tips on how to build your own set of coveted washboard abs, we asked personal trainer and former pro-athlete Matt Tralli his top tips for getting a strong, functional core.

1. Incorporate Core Into Everything 

A strong core doesn’t just come from doing thousands of sit-ups (although that is one piece of the puzzle), Tralli explains. “I like to incorporate some type of core exercise in all of my training programs,” he says. Exercises like squats, planks, and push-ups are a great way to hit your core while targeting other muscles at the same time.

You’ve probably heard it before, but we’ll say it again — you can’t spot-train only your abs, so building muscle mass and decreasing body fat overall is going to be your best plan of action if you want to get those six-pack abs. 

“As an athlete, we mainly did full-body lifts to develop strength and conditioning, so I’ve always loved incorporating full-body workout days along with my days that I’m focusing on one muscle group,” Tralli says, emphasizing the importance of focusing on getting strong overall. “I think that’ll only help you achieve your goals in a shorter amount of time,” he concludes. 

2. Get Your Sit-Ups In 

Okay, okay, we just got done saying a strong core doesn’t just come from thousands of sit-ups, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about sit-ups altogether, either. A strong core comes from balancing a little of each. “I’m a big sit-ups kind of guy,” Tralli says. “You can do them anywhere, anytime, so I always get my sit-ups in.”

If you don’t want to (or don’t have time to) have a dedicated core day, try setting aside 5-10 minutes at the end of your workout to hit a few sets of sit-ups. Even if you’re incorporating your core work into other exercises as we mentioned above, it’s still a good idea to make sure you’re targeting your core on its own, as well. 

3. Mix It Up

Your abdominals are just like any other muscle group. If you do the same exercise over and over again, eventually it loses a bit of effectiveness. Just like you wouldn’t only do hammer curls for your biceps, you want to make sure you’re not just doing standard sit-ups when you work your core. Instead, mix things up and keep your muscles on their toes with a few of Tralli’s favorite core exercises, which include a Pallof press, cable or banded chops, and different plank variations. 

Your core might sometimes seem like an afterthought, but this is one muscle group you don’t want to neglect. “I think this is one of the most important areas of your body aside from your lower body,” Tralli says. “Everything comes from your core, whether it’s your balance and stability or your explosion and power.” 

So the next time you’re at the gym, give Tralli's tips a try, and watch the rest of your lifts improve, as well. 

You can find more tips, daily workouts, and awesome core exercises from Matt Tralli on Instagram or TikTok. 

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