Abdominal work
What are your thoughts on side bends for oblique work while holding a 45-pound plate, bending side to side? And do you like the weighted sit-up machine or do you think regular crunches are better?
I’d skip the side bends, as you might build up the obliques and thicken the area. Let your rope tucks and hanging leg raises, hyperextensions and overall training and smart eating do the deed.
Don’t like the machine either (spine antagonism), and crunches have been recently downgraded for similar reason — too much spinal flexion.
You might like more core work… I love repetition one-arm dumbbell cleans, floor to overhead, as a rugged body exercise (4×8 reps). Lots of gut and system and energy.
Press on… Godspeed