Whether she’s bossing it on screen (we’re still obsessing over Killing Eve) or causing major envy on the red carpet, Jodie Comer’s strong physique is often a topic of conversation at Women’s Health HQ. Most recently, the star stepped out for a cocktail event in London and showcased her killer core, which she built using expert guidance from elite trainer David Higgins.
Dave Benett
‘I do Pilates with my trainer David Higgins,’ Jodie, 33, previously told the NY Times. ‘He’s in London, so we just do a FaceTime call. I need someone to make sure I’m not slacking.’
The good news? You don’t need a FaceTime slot with David, because when I trained with him back in 2023, he shared the brutal yet highly effective 100-rep ab challenge he prescribes to his celebrity clients (including the formidable Margot Robbie). Between crunches, toe taps and minimal rest time, it targets the deepest layers of your abs to build true, functional strength. Here’s how to do it.
To caveat, no workout can magically produce visible abs (body composition, nutrition and genetics all play a role), but short, consistent workouts can significantly strengthen your core muscles. And that’s more important than simply having superficial abs.
100-rep ab challenge
- 20 crunches
- 20 toe taps (legs together)
- 20 toe taps, left side
- 20 toe taps, right side
- 20 toe taps (legs together)
Optional: If you’re looking for a progression, David revealed that Margot would do this circuit five times while training for Barbie. Try increasing to two rounds, then three, and so on.
As for Comer’s Pilates routine, she previously told WSJ: ‘I do an hour of Pilates in the morning with my trainer. There’s something therapeutic about Pilates, especially getting on a reformer. I’ve never found something that’s changed my body the way that it has. I actually feel very strong.’
And speaking to Vogue, she recalled the revelatory moment she became a Pilates convert: ‘I was like, ‘Ohhhh, that’s my core!’ I’ve done so much weight training and gone to a PT every week, but it wasn’t until I did Pilates that I realised how my body should be moving.’
When we trained together, David shared his approach to Pilates – and why he’s such a big advocate: ‘I stick to durations over reps when using a reformer machine. Reformer Pilates keeps your mechanics working properly, to prevent injury and protect your joints, as it works all of your muscles unilaterally.’ He shared the below workout, advising that you perform each exercise for 2 minutes. The key is to focus on control and precision over speed.
- Wheelbarrow
- Plank hold
- Plank to pikes
- Plank hold
- Glute kickbacks, both sides
- Leg circles
One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women’s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan – created exclusively for Women’s Health COLLECTIVE members – you’ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.
As Women’s Health UK’s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.
After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine’s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!
Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner’s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as ‘Fit At Any Age’, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.
She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks – all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram.