45 Minutes Intermediate Abs Workout with Dumbbell
A 45 minutes muscle building workout targeting your abs using dumbbell equipment. 3 exercises, 11 total sets, designed for intermediate lifters.
45 Minutes
Duration
11
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~578
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Hold a dumbbell in one hand and place the opposite hand behind your head.
- Keep your hips square and facing forward — do not rotate your torso.
- Lower the dumbbell along the outside of your thigh by bending at the waist.
Advanced movement — prioritize form over weight.
Form cues
- Lie on your back holding a kettlebell or dumbbell overhead with one arm fully extended.
- Roll onto your side and use your free arm to push yourself up to a seated position.
- Sweep your back leg under you into a half-kneeling position.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
Form cues
- Sit on the floor with knees bent and feet slightly elevated (or on the ground for easier version).
- Lean back to roughly 45 degrees, keeping your back straight.
- Hold a weight at your chest and rotate your torso side to side.
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.