Where's all the extension?

Another fancy new core-blasting program showed up at my gym.

CXWorx - it'll worx your CX!

Like every other "revolutionary" 30-minute core workout (fun fact: if you're spending 30 minutes on your core, you're wasting a shitload of gym time), it appears to be mostly based around dynamic, flexion-based killer moves that will really shred that stubborn belly fat.

Sorry.

My problem is this: as a people, we don't struggle with flexion. Of course, everyone could use a good ab workout - but how many people are affected on a daily basis by their lack of flexion strength?

Lack of control, maybe. Not lack of strength. Or endurance.

Who keeps their milk cartons on the floor, anyway?

No, as this picture suggests, our problem is extension.  We're terrified of it. We never do it, and then we wonder why we're so bad at it.  I would suggest this:

If you are a happy, healthy, fit adult, and you cannot safely lift 50 pounds in the above position, you are not healthy or fit. You are ridiculously weak.  That's not perfect lifting form - but life doesn't function in ways that allow you perfect form every time.  I watch people do horrible things with their shoulders all day, with no injury - because despite my frequent encounters with RC tears, your average human being still uses their shoulders on a daily basis, and so the muscle strength and control is at least a little bit present.

How did I end up with this woman again? I should pay her a percentage of my sweet profits for this post.

So how about a little extension? Sure, do some "core blasting" and feel great about all that ab DOMS.  But if you ignore the other side of your body and then hurt yourself lifting a wiggly child, don't come crying to me.  Or do, and once I have a license you can pay handsomely for me to give you the same damned advice.