90 Minutes Intermediate Abs Workout with Barbell
A 90 minutes muscle building workout targeting your abs using barbell equipment. 7 exercises, 27 total sets, designed for intermediate lifters.
90 Minutes
Duration
27
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~1215
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Rest the bar on the front of your shoulders with elbows high (clean grip or cross grip).
- Keep your torso as upright as possible throughout the entire movement.
- Descend to full depth — front squats allow deeper squatting than back squats.
Start with the bar in the front rack position on your shoulders.
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.
Grip the bar just outside shoulder-width with elbows slightly in front of the bar.
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 weight plate with hands at 9 and 3 o'clock positions, arms hanging in front of your thighs.
Form cues
- Hold a weight plate with hands at 9 and 3 o'clock positions, arms hanging in front of your thighs.
- Raise the plate in front of you with straight arms until it reaches eye level.
- Pause briefly at the top and squeeze your front delts.
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.
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.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
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.
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.