45 Minutes Intermediate Abs Workout with Barbell
A 45 minutes muscle building workout targeting your abs using barbell equipment. 3 exercises, 12 total sets, designed for intermediate lifters.
45 Minutes
Duration
12
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~630
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Hold a barbell in the front rack position or dumbbells at shoulder height.
- Squat down to full depth.
- Drive explosively out of the squat and use that momentum to press the weight overhead.
Lie flat on the floor and roll a padded barbell over your hips.
Form cues
- Lie flat on the floor and roll a padded barbell over your hips.
- Place your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart, with knees bent at 90 degrees.
- Drive your hips straight up by squeezing your glutes — lock out fully.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
Form cues
- Anchor one end of a barbell in a landmine attachment or corner, load the other end.
- Hold the loaded end at chest height with both hands cupped around the sleeve.
- Press the bar up and forward at a roughly 45-degree angle until arms are fully extended.
Why This Workout Works
This workout is built around the principles of muscle building training. Use moderate loads (65-80% of your 1RM) with controlled eccentrics and full range of motion. Prioritize progressive overload by adding reps before adding weight. Train each muscle group 2x per week with 10-20 hard sets per muscle per week.
Training Parameters
- Rep Range: 8-12 reps — the hypertrophy sweet spot for maximum muscle growth
- Rest Periods: 60-90 seconds — long enough for quality reps, short enough for metabolic stress
- Sets Per Exercise: 3-4 sets — optimized for muscle building
Abs Training Tips
- *Heavy compound lifts train your abs hard — dedicated ab work is the finishing touch, not the foundation.
- *Anti-rotation and anti-extension exercises (pallof press, ab wheel) build real functional core strength.
- *Visible abs are made in the kitchen — no amount of crunches overcomes a caloric surplus.
Get this abs workout personalized for you
Revy's AI will analyze your training history, recovery status, and strength levels to customize every set, rep, and weight for maximum muscle building results.