Why a 5-Minute Ab Workout Has Lasted Me Over 17 Years
For over 17 years I’ve done a 5-minute ab workout. I still do it.
Needs iOS 26 or later.
How it started
It started in high school. My football coach made this routine up on the spot and ran it with the team during our workouts. It was hard. It stuck anyway, and I loved it. I’ve done it ever since.
I’ve played sports at a high level, including college football, so long workouts are nothing new to me. The one that has stayed with me the longest is the short one. I still come back to it because I love it, and I know it works for me.
Short enough to stick with
I do it at the end of every gym workout, no matter what day it is. I’ve been in and out of the gym over the years, and this has been part of my routine every single time.
I get on the floor, do five moves for one minute each, and I’m done. That’s the whole reason it has lasted. Five minutes is easy to say yes to, even on a tired day.
The five moves change
Over the years I’ve swapped all kinds of ab moves in and out, and that idea is built into the app: with a plan or Lifetime, you can change any of the five.
My own routine is the full minute on every move. Not everyone wants to jump straight into that, so I made two easier levels, Beginner and Intermediate, with short rests built in.
So I made it into an app
I find it extremely useful, and I wanted to share it. It’s short enough to stick with, so I made it into an app. The app keeps the time and shows you each move. All you have to do is press play and follow along. You don’t need a gym for it. Every move uses only your own body weight.
- Keep your eyes off the screen. A voice names the next move before it starts, and a sound marks each change. If you wear an Apple Watch, it vibrates at every one.
- See how each move goes. A figure does the move on screen while you do it.
- Start the minute it downloads. There’s no account to set up and no ads, and the app does not collect your personal information.
Try the short one
The app is free to download, and the Beginner routine stays free. The harder levels come with a monthly or yearly plan, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Press Start on Beginner and see whether five minutes fits your day.
Needs iOS 26 or later.
Check with your doctor first
5-Minute Abs shows you short ab and core exercises, and general exercises for pregnancy and after birth. They aren’t medical advice, and the app does not promise a 6-pack. Check with your doctor before you start any new workout routine. If you’re pregnant or just had a baby, check with your doctor or midwife before you start, while you’re pregnant and again after you give birth.