Forget sit-ups — I did suitcase carries for a week, and my core was on fire
Here's what happened when we swapped sit-ups for suitcase carries for a week.
Forget traditional sit-ups and crunches, as they can strain your lower back and don't efficiently target your abdominal muscles. Personal trainer Sam Hopes suggested trying suitcase carries, a functional exercise that can improve your core strength. Using a heavy dumbbell, stand next to it with a flat back, engage your core, and walk forward while keeping your torso upright and shoulders square.
This exercise challenges your obliques, transverse abdominis, and QL muscles, which help prevent you from leaning and build rotational stability. Although it can feel like walking up and down with a weight, it primarily targets single-side stability, which is crucial for runners, as running is a single-leg sport. The suitcase carry also works your grip strength, shoulders, and forearms. Try incorporating this exercise into your routine for a full-body workout.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
