90 Minutes Beginner Abs Workout with Barbell
A 90 minutes muscle building workout targeting your abs using barbell equipment. 7 exercises, 28 total sets, designed for beginner lifters.
90 Minutes
Duration
28
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~1260
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Grip the bar just outside shoulder-width with elbows slightly in front of the bar.
- Brace your core hard and squeeze your glutes — your whole body is the platform.
- Press the bar in a straight line, moving your head back slightly to clear it.
Hold a barbell in the front rack position or dumbbells at shoulder height.
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.
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in your knees for stability.
Form cues
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in your knees for stability.
- Keep your arms nearly straight as you sweep the barbell in an arc from hip to hip.
- Rotate through your torso — do not just swing your arms across your body.
Anchor one end of a barbell in a landmine attachment or corner, load the other end.
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.
Unrack the bar at collar bone height with hands just outside shoulder width.
Form cues
- Unrack the bar at collar bone height with hands just outside shoulder width.
- Brace your core and glutes, then press the bar straight overhead by moving your head out of the way.
- Lock out with the bar directly over your mid-foot, biceps by your ears.
Position your upper back against a bench at roughly the bottom of your shoulder blades.
Form cues
- Position your upper back against a bench at roughly the bottom of your shoulder blades.
- Roll the barbell into your hip crease — use a bar pad for comfort.
- Drive through your heels, pushing your hips up until your shins are vertical and your torso is flat.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
Form cues
- Start with the bar in the front rack position on your shoulders.
- Dip by bending your knees 2-3 inches — not a full squat.
- Explosively extend your legs and use that momentum to drive the bar overhead.
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.