If you’ve ever finished a set of hanging leg raises and felt it more in your lower back or hips than your actual abs, this is for you Standard leg raises are great, but it’s way too easy to start swinging or let your hip flexors do the heavy lifting. By locking your back against a bar (or having a gym buddy hold you steady, you take the momentum out of the equation. It forces your lower abs to actually work to move your legs, rather than just stabilizing your spine. Give it a shot on your next core day—the burn is a lot different when you can’t cheat