I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (2024)

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Sam Gutierrez

Updated

2020-04-29T14:22:00Z

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (1)

Jason Kempin/Getty Images
  • I tried to follow model Gigi Hadid's ab workout as explained by her trainer Rob Piela.
  • It took me a few tries to get a hang of the routine but it eventually got easier.
  • The moves were easy to follow and I felt like they really worked my core.
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Ab work is hard and I rarely muster the energy to do it. But when I had the opportunity to work out like Gigi Hadid, a model who is known for her killer abs, I felt like I finally had the motivation I needed.

Hadid frequently trains with Rob Piela, owner of Gotham Gym in NYC, and it turns out she maintains her fit physique by doing some pretty simple exercises.

Here's what it was like working out like Hadid for a week.

Keep in mind that just because a certain routine works for a celebrity doesn't mean it will work for you (or me).

According to Piela, he frequently mixes up Hadid's routine, but she loves boxing.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (2)

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

I wanted to focus on getting Hadid's killer abs, so I mostly stuck to her boxing routine.

Here's the breakdown:

  1. Warm up the core with 10 minutes of boxing.
  2. Perform three sets of 40 crunches each.
  3. Raise your heart rate with 10 minutes of boxing.
  4. Perform three sets of 40 bicycle crunches, kicking each leg out once per bicycle.
  5. Box for another 10 minutes.
  6. Take a plank pose to hit the transverse abdominal muscles, holding for about 60 seconds — or as long as you can maintain good form.
  7. Go straight into leg raises to hit the lower abdominal muscles, doing four sets of 25 leg raises.

Day one: It was actually not as bad as I thought it would be, though I hesitate to say it was easy.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (3)

Samantha Gutierrez

I definitely didn't do 40 of each exercise because I am not in Hadid shape yet. But it's understandable that I can't easily go from zero core work to 120 reps for each exercise.

Instead, I did 30, 35, and then 40 repetitions of both ab moves. I had to take some big breaks during the bicycle crunches because those are not easy. The plank was surprisingly easy, and I could definitely feel my core engaging.

As far as the boxing, I'd never really done it as a form of cardio — I usually run on an elliptical — so I wasn't totally sure what to do. I didn't feel like I was getting a great workout, but that's probably more due to my lack of training.

It was definitely a tough workout but not as bad as I thought it would be.

Day two: I started to feel incredibly sore.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (4)

Samantha Gutierrez

I repeated the same workout on day two, and it went pretty smoothly again.

Once again, I didn't do 40 repetitions of each exercise every round, instead, I did 35, 40, and 40. But the bicycle crunches were no easier, and I had to take frequent breaks.

The workout was hard, but I felt even worse after.

Although boxing doesn't necessarily need to be done with equipment, I used a punching bag. I must've hit it the wrong way because my right hand was in such pain all day that I could barely write with it.

As the day went on, my entire body, especially my core, started to feel incredibly sore.

Day three: I took a much-needed rest.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (5)

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

My body was definitely feeling the toll from my intense workouts, so I decided to take a break on day three.

Piela said Hadid does her core workout four days a week, so as long as I did another two sessions, I'd still be sticking to the routine.

Day four: I tried my hand at jumping rope.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (6)

Samantha Gutierrez

By day four, my body felt a lot less sore but my hands still hurt from hitting the punching bag.Piela said that jumping rope is another great cardio option, so I decided to do that instead.

Jumping rope for 20 minutes was a lot harder than it was when I was a kid, but I got through it with a couple of breaks. I did also feel like it provided a much more intense workout than hitting a punching bag.

Aside from changing the cardio, I did everything else exactly as I had before.

I still struggled with the bicycle crunches but actually did the full reps for each set of the other moves, so there was definitely progress.

Day five: I switched back to boxing and felt really strong during the workout.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (7)

Samantha Gutierrez

For day five, I switched back to boxing and kept everything else the same.

I was feeling a lot more confident with the routine, and I was able to do it full out with 40 reps per set. I even added an extra 30 seconds into my plank for an extra challenge.

Overall, Hadid's ab workout was definitely simple, easy to follow, and effective.

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (8)

Samantha Gutierrez

Obviously, it would take a long time to get Gigi-level abs, and I wasn't expecting any immediate results, but I was still very happy with the way the routine worked my abs.

I think it's definitely something I'll be doing in the future, and I could add more reps to increase the challenge as I go.

I'll also likely switch the cardio to running since I feel it's a better way to get my heart rate up. I'm sure boxing is great cardio, but it was easy for me to slack off when all I was doing was punching a bag by myself.

Overall, I would recommend the workout if you're looking for a simple way to work your abs without any equipment.

Read more:

  • I tried working out like Jennifer Garner for a week, and it made my abs look great but I almost didn't make it
  • I tried the 30-day ab challenge and it sort of worked. Here's why I'm never doing it again.
  • I tried to work out like Lady Gaga for a week, and her ab exercises were killer
  • 18 tips for working out while pregnant

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I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought (2024)

FAQs

I tried Gigi Hadid's equipment-free workout, and it was easier than I thought? ›

In fact, over time, as you make fitness gains, you are likely to feel less pain with each workout (and do more in less time with even greater results). This is because your anaerobic threshold (AT) is climbing higher.

Why are my workout getting easier? ›

In fact, over time, as you make fitness gains, you are likely to feel less pain with each workout (and do more in less time with even greater results). This is because your anaerobic threshold (AT) is climbing higher.

Why are my workouts not getting easier? ›

Our bodies are just too efficient. If we just lift the exact same weight for the exact same reps and time, our nervous system will “figure out” how to accomplish the task with slightly less muscle. Each week, we'll get more efficient, and our bodies will find ways to get rid of “unnecessary” muscle mass.

How does Gigi stay so thin? ›

Hadid, who walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show three times, follows an intense routine to stay in shape, counting boxing, weight training, and volleyball as her favorite workouts. As expected, Hadid also sticks to a clean, protein-heavy diet with minimal carbs.

How to get abs like Gigi Hadid? ›

Hadid begins her workout by warming up her core with 10 minutes of boxing, followed by three sets of 40 crunches. The primary goal of warming up is to raise the heart rate so that the body enters the fat-burning state. She then performs three sets of 40 bicycle crunches, kicking each leg out once per bicycle.

How do you know if your workout is too easy? ›

Signs a Workout Has Gotten Too Easy For You
  1. Your heart rate is not high enough. ...
  2. You never break a sweat.
  3. You can easily do more than 10-reps. ...
  4. You can do more than one workout in a day. ...
  5. You never amp up your intensity level. ...
  6. You no longer feel accomplished after working out.
  7. You're not seeing results.

How long until workout gets easier? ›

Scientists have found that it is around the three-week mark that people experience the biggest changes in their ability to get through a workout, as energy produced by mitochondria for muscle cells drops off significantly.

How are the hadids so skinny? ›

The secret to Bella Hadid weight loss has been adhering to a strict healthy diet and working out regularly. With this technique, the model was able to shed 20 pounds and downsize from 140 pounds to 120 pounds. She followed a high-protein diet and combined cardio with strength training to facilitate greater weight loss.

How do Korean models stay thin? ›

02/7They follow a well-balanced diet

From protein to carbs to fat, a healthy Korean diet consists of all, but in a well-balanced form. Besides, Koreans are also very particular about portion sizes. They avoid overeating and also incorporate physical activity in their day-to-day routine.

How do Kardashians stay so thin? ›

Both the Kardashian sisters are workout-enthusiasts and resort to consistent, daily exercise routine. According to Melissa Alcantara, Kim K's personal trainer, the billionaire works out six days a week, with no excuses.

What is the most abs on a person? ›

However, any number of abs from 2 all the way to 12 is possible, although being born with 6 horizontal bands of connective tissue is very rare. The point is, the number of abdominal muscles it's possible for an individual to achieve is entirely predetermined by genetics, and therefore out of your control.

How does Kim Kardashian get her abs? ›

Mel has designed Kim's abs workouts to be easy enough to complete when she's travelling, but still get her sweating when she hits the gym. "It's simple, yet effective at the same time," Mel says, explaining that the routine includes lying leg lifts, reverse v-ups and bicycle crunches with a clap.

How to get girly abs? ›

Cardio, crunches, plank exercises, mountain climbers, and hanging ab curls are some of the various exercises that can help you lose fat, tone the abs, get a strong core, and achieve your fitness goals. Complementing this with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle would help you see a visible difference soon.

Can your body get used to a workout? ›

This is why the first few workouts of a new exercise program can be extremely tough and leave you feeling sore. As you continue with the program, your body adapts to the stimulus and the exercise becomes a little easier, causing your body to be less sore the longer you stay with that program.

Why am I working out getting stronger but not bigger? ›

One possible reason your muscle is not growing could be that your training is more geared toward improving your strength vs hypertrophy (i.e. muscle growth). You want to fully activate your whole muscle to maximize growth. The last 5 or so reps performed in a set is where this happens.

How do you know your body is changing from working out? ›

How to tell if your body is changing with exercise
  1. Others Start To Notice Your Physical Changes. It is easy to miss the subtle muscle growth or weight loss when you're looking at your reflection in the mirror every day. ...
  2. You Look Forward To Your Workout. ...
  3. You forget To Be Tempted. ...
  4. Regular exercise has a compound effect.
Nov 12, 2017

Why am I going to the gym and not getting stronger? ›

There Isn't Enough Variety in Your Workouts.

Muscle development thrives on diversity. Don't do the same exercises for the same number of repetitions in the same order every time you go to the gym. We all have our favorite lifts and have a tendency to get complacent by falling into the same routine each day.

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