Many of the exercises shown may also work other muscles, typically the back or arms. If a specific muscle group is your goal, and you want to know which exercise maximizes that group’s involvement, please contact me directly.
I know the thought of working out your abs is enough to make you cringe and curl up in bed with a bowl of ice cream. But I promise it doesn’t have to be that way! These high-impact exercises will help target your abs without making you feel like you’re working out at all. In this health and fitness blog, there are some of my favorite exercises to help tone up the midsection. Try them out and let us know what you think!
1) Russian Twists
Lying on your back, bend both knees with your feet flat on the floor. Keep your arms straight along your sides with palms facing down. Tighten your abs so that they don’t sag toward the floor and raise both legs a few inches off the floor. Lift both of your legs off the ground approximately 45 degrees and then slowly lower them back to the starting position without touching the ground. Repeat for 20-30 repetitions to complete one set.
2) Reverse Crunch
Lay on your back with your knees pressed into the ground. Keep your feet flat on the floor and hands behind your head. Pull your belly button toward your spine and tighten up your abs to keep them from sagging toward the floor as you lift both legs off the ground about 45 degrees. Use your abs to lift both legs off of the ground without swinging or using momentum to help carry you up. Lower them back down without touching down to complete one rep. Try to do 3 sets of 10-20 reps for a good workout!
3) Plank With Weighted Arm Raise
Get in a plank position with weights in each hand as shown above. Keep your core tight and move the weights in an arc-like motion as shown above. This is a great exercise for working your shoulders, core, back and arms, plus it’s a killer ab workout!
4) Knee Tucks
Lay on your back with knees bent into the ground. Keep your arms straight along your sides with palms facing down. Tighten your abs so that they don’t sag toward the floor and raise both legs a few inches off the ground. Lift both of your legs off of the ground approximately 45 degrees and then slowly lower them back to the starting position without touching down to complete one rep. Try to do 3 sets of 10-20 reps for a good workout!
5) Bicycle Crunch
Lie on your back with feet flat on the floor and knees bent. Tighten your abs so that they don’t sag toward the floor and raise both legs up off of the ground in front of you. Lower the legs down to complete one rep. Try to do 3 sets of 10-20 reps for a good workout!
