🏋️‍♂️ 5 rules to carve six-pack abs

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Start your week with these stories:

• The immutable laws of core training.

• The benefits of infrared sauna use.

• Is Brian Shaw moving into MMA?

Exercise Tips

Core Values

Even with the demise of the television infomercial, marketing for ab training is still an intolerable menace. You can stamp it out by educating yourself on the anatomy and functionality of your core, and thereby learning how to strengthen your abs without making three easy payments of $9.99 (plus shipping and handling).

To do that, you need to follow our list of indisputable rules about ab training. First, you need to realize that your core is about more than just the six meatball-shaped muscles scattered around your belly button. From there, we break down more commandments you need to follow, like how to brace your core while training and how to progress properly over the weeks and months.

Remember, if you want that diamond-cut six-pack of your dreams, you’re going to need to do a little more than train your abs for five minutes a day in between pounding beers and nachos at the bar. Find all of our rules — along with a list of the essential exercises — below.

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Recovery

Seeing Red

Of all the modern-day recovery methods being used by top athletes, none may sound weirder than using an infrared sauna.

The idea of a regular sauna may not be so strange, even if the practice of sweating with a dozen other naked gymgoers may be awkward at first. Instead of steam heat being generated by pouring water over a hot stone, infrared saunas use the power of the light spectrum to heat your body.

If a steaming hot sauna is intolerable, be aware that infrared saunas operate at a lower temperature while retaining all the potential health benefits of its Swedish cousin. These include reduced joint health, recovery from muscle fatigue, and heart health. If other recovery methods leave you wanting, the infrared sauna could be a modern take on an old favorite.

Strongman

Mixed-Strength Athlete

Recently retired strongman Brian Shaw is apparently doing what all middle-aged men dream of doing when they retire: Learning to punch people in the face. That’s right, Shaw is officially dabbling in MMA.

And, to be clear, this isn’t just an after-work cardio routine. With fight plans for him in the works, the iconic strongman is working with a slew of MMA coaches to bring up his skills across the entire spectrum of the fight game.

Follow along with the behemoth’s new journey and learn all about how his training is progressing.

Everything Else

Big Day for Weightlifting

• After years of drama and corruption charges, weightlifting will officially be a part of the 2028 Olympics. While seemingly axiomatic that Olympic weightlifting would take place at the Olympics, this is a huge win for worldwide strength sports.

• Fitness apparel behemoth Nike is entering the cluttered home gym market by introducing a new swoosh-branded line of strength equipment. See what they’re offering.

• Don’t let long airport stays ruin your day. Use this airport-friendly workout to get your body moving and blood flowing before you have to cram into your window seat.

Sound Off!

Recovery Mode

The Results Are In!

Will You Watch the Olympia?

In the October 16, 2023, edition of The BarBend Newsletter, we asked whether or not you’ll watch the 2023 Mr. Olympia this year. Here’s how you voted:

1. I’ll keep up with BarBend’s coverage (49.21%)

2. Not at all (44.44%)

3. I’ll watch it live (6.35%)