How To Sneak In An Ab Workout, While Training Your Guns

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If you're following MH Fitness Director, Chief Brabon, on Instagram (and if not, you should be), you'll have noticed that the great man himself incorporated some offset training while on location for our latest MH transformation photoshoot.

And if you're wondering exactly what 'offset training' is, Chief is the man in the know.

"Offset training [is where] one side of the barbell heavier than the other (sic), or a heavier dumbell/kettlebell in one hand will test or core stability and your coordination," says Chief while demonstrating a static offset barbell hold.

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. . #THURSDAY✖️THROWDOWN. . Nothing better than testing yourself in new ways, or in this case ways that you have neglected for some time. . Before I get to that though, I have had over a dozen direct messages from people asking how to get their hands on the @UnderArmourAu kicks and duds that I posted yesterday (as seen here). . The kicks are the UA #HOVRsonic , which happen to be my favourite UA running/ street shoes to date ( I seriously need the Downtown Green ones 👌🏼). . As a gift to all of my followers, UA are offering 20% off any purchases at UnderArmour.com.au (link in profile). . Just use the code: OGCAMP2 . . Anyway, back to the workout. . I was just messing around behind the scenes at our latest @MensHealthAu secret Celebrity Transformation shoot, and realised that it had been quite a while since I had done any Off-set Barbell work. . For those that have never tried it, Offset training (one side of the barbell heavier than the other, or a heavier dumbell/kettlebell in one hand) will test or core stability and your coordination. . We shot a couple of great Flows & Complexes for you to follow, so keep your eyes peeled here, and on the Men's Health Au channels. . 📸: @emiliebrabonhames . . #dowhatotherswont #testyourself #barbell #training #ua #underarmour #neverbackdown

Offset training (or 'loading') may seem simple in theory, but it can have significant benefits when applied properly to a training routine. Creating the imbalance engages stabiliser muscles, mainly found in the core and hips. By offsetting the weight distribution, we place and extra demand on these muscle groups to maintain stability, creating flexion and placing them under constant load and increasing their time under tension... ie. working them hard!

Whilst not necessary in every session you complete, the principle can be an interesting variation to a range of standard lifts, including: squats, split squats, deadlifts, bicep curls, bench press, push press, upright rows... and bilateral movements. Just be sure to even up the workload by reversing the offset load on your second set.