A stronger core enables you to do many activities, such as standing straight, getting a glass from the top shelf and bending down to tie your shoes.

Athletes, such as runners, require strong core muscles, as weak core muscles can contribute to increased fatigue, decreased endurance and injuries. You may not be an athlete, but a stronger core can help you avoid injuries and pains in your lower back, fatigue and lower stamina.

Include these seven free weight exercises in your routine to get a stronger core:

Challenge your core with this variation of a sit-up that makes the abdominal exercise even more difficult than it already is. Make sure to maintain the correct form so that you don’t strain your neck. You can start with an eight-pound soft medicine ball, and progress as your strength increases.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

The plank is undoubtedly one of the best exercises you can do to increase your overall strength. Variations of the plank help challenge your core better to give your abdominals a real workout.

Here's how you can do this exercise for a stronger core:

You can perform this exercise either with a dumbbell, kettlebell or medicine ball. This dynamic exercise targets the obliques and upper abdominals while simultaneously elevating the heart rate.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

This exercise challenges your stability, as you must balance your body weight on one arm while simultaneously pulling a dumbbell from one side of your body to the other.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

This traditional exercise targets the obliques, with the addition of a dumbbell or medicine ball increasing the difficulty.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

Yet another variation of the conventional sit-up, this variation brings a whole new challenge for your core.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

End your freeweight core session with this seemingly simple exercise that'll activate your core as well as your arms.

Here's how you do this exercise for a stronger core:

The aforementioned seven free weight exercises should strengthen your core and make you more confident.

Q. Do you do core workouts?

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