Ten Moves To Tighten The Tummy
Posted: July 27, 2011 at 4:00 pmLook what we have here! Another post cataloging some of my favorite exercises for different body parts. In this post, I will focus on that area we all want to work efficiently. The abs! The traditional plank will always reign supreme as my top tummy tigthener and core stengthener, but you will regularly find me completing the following ten moves for my abdominals as well. Enjoy!
Stability Ball Roll-Outs
Kneel with a stability ball in front of you. Place your hands on the ball. Slowly roll your hands, then arms along the ball while keeping your back straight. Flow through the motion until you are extended like in the second photo above. Using control, return to start.
Stability Ball Roll-Ins
Place your feet/shins on a stability ball with your upper body in a straight arm plank position. Using your abs, pull your knees into your chest while your legs roll along the ball. Slowly return to start.
Medicine Ball Oblique Twists
Sit with your knees bent and lean back slightly while holding a medicine ball. Draw your belly button in and twist from side to side tapping your elbow down to the floor. Go from side to side, while keeping the movement controlled.
V-Crunch
Begin with your body in a “V” – legs out straight, arms extended overhead, and belly pulled in. Slowly bring everything in to the middle while rising up into a seated position. Return to start and repeat for reps.
Standard Bicycle Crunch
I don’t know why, but I love these and they never fail to get me. Twist your upper body so your elbow/shoulder are reaching toward the opposite knee. Using control, switch sides.
Oblique V Crunch
Similar to the V-Crunch above, but done with a focus on the oblique by completing the motion while sitting on the side, meaty portion of the derriere. Side note: I think that is the first time I have ever typed derriere on my blog. It was fun.
Spiderman Planks
These HURT! Start in a straight arm plank and hold for 10-15 seconds. Then complete 10-15 reps on one side by bringing your knee up towards your chest. Hold the standard plank another 10-15 seconds and finish with 10-15 reps on the opposite side. OUCH!
Boat Pose
Hang out in this position as long as you can stand it. If you last longer than 45 seconds, you beat me! Be sure to keep your abs tight and your lower back supported. And I just noticed – check out the seriousness on my face. Ha!
Bosu Cross Punch
I stole this idea from the Physique 57 workout DVD I received awhile ago. The unsteady surface, extended leg, and the crossing motion work it all, folks! It’s a good burn.
Decline Bench Crunch
Yet another that I love for some odd reason. I just feel it so much more than a standard crunch. I love using the decline bench for hip lifts too. Such a challenge!
More Fitness Posts of Interest:
- Achieving A Six-Pack: My Thoughts & Experience
- Favorite Back Exercises
- Favorite Triceps Exercises
As always, focus on training for strength, health, and function over appearance. A defined stomach is nice, but the core strength is what we really need. And don’t forget that I’m not a certified trainer, so please use any of the above information at your own discretion.
What is your favorite way to train your core? Any abs moves you hate?
Tags: abs, fitness, strength training
I need to get a BOSU for at home!
great post! can’t wait to use these 🙂
Oooo I’m definitely going to be trying some of these! I love the stability ball ones…those always hurt so good ;). You could also do some v-ups with a medicine ball…those are killer! You look so toned and great in all those pics!
Just want to comment on how young you look in these pictures. 🙂 Great job and keep up the hard work.
Pilates,pilates and more pilates! That has strengthened my core up so much!
Recently my friends and I have started doing the Jackie Warner Abs DVD and it is amazing! We pop in the DVD at the gym and work out to it. It hurts so much but it has given me six pack definition that I never thought possible.
I love the stability ball roll ins! I’ve been calling them prone jackknives because that’s what nrolfw calls it in stage 1 of the workouts. It’s fun and it’s a great way to strengthen your core. Thanks for the list of other ones, there are definitely a few I haven’t tried before.
I’ve been doing deep core stuff to address a back issue but my body seems determined to obscure muscle in that area with…ummm…non-muscle. There at even my lowest weight (when losing wouldn’t have been good) so I’m learning to “accept the pooch” 😛
That said, I CAN see my obliques. Well, okay, only first thing in the AM (and after a healthy day), but that’s good for me. My BF turned me on to these….I call them Tick-Tocs in my head but this random site calls them dumbell side dips: http://www.fitness-training-at-home.com/oblique-exercises.html#dumbbell-side-dips. I prefer using a kettleball though.
I love all of these moves! Some of them I haven’t tried though. Generally I do pushups, planks and oblique twists (with a weight) to work my core.
These are great, Tina! I love-to-hate planks but I HATE ball roll ups (toes out on the ball, roll up to your hips)…cannot do them for the life of me! Anything that targets my lower abs, I am all for, though.
Those oblique side crunches are a killer! I hate those, but they work so well!
looking good, girl! love all these moves. i’m with you, can’t beat the plank 🙂 it just hurts so good!
V Crunches are a fav of mine, and some times I add V Up which are harder!
V-ups always make me think of SOS days. LOL
Although I remember they called it something cutesy like starbursts or something. Suckers still killed though.
I love bicycle crunches for some reason too and planks. I hate normal crunches though. I never know if I’m coming up high enough, mirror or not.
these are great! I do all of these at my gym or at home 🙂 I actually really hate the plank. I lovee any stability ball moves though!
I love these posts!!
Bicycle crunches kill me. Theyre SO hard – and yet I love them. 🙂
My abs are the hardest place on my body to tone, but I’ve been trying to give them some extra attention lately! I love medicine ball twists…they’re quick but you can really feel the burn!
I love crunches! These are really good moves.
Spiderman planks bring me to tears, so hard! Great ab moves, I’m definitely going to try and incorporate a lot of these into my routine! 🙂
i fall over in boat pose every time! my class always laughs at me, haha. At least laughing works the abs too.
😉
I have a love/hate relationship with ab workouts. They hurt so good!
These ab exercises are great!! I get stuck doing the same ones so it will be nice to have some variety. Gotta admit though, the stability ball roll-ins kill me! I think I just feel very shakey when doing them.
Thanks for this great compilation: I’ve been looking for more abs things to do. I don’t have all the equipment for all of them, but I can definitely do some of them that are new to me.
Your body is looking splendidly toned!
Glad you had fun with the derriere!
oooh! this is just what i need. thanks!!
Love this one too! I love doing abs and these look like more fun than my crunches!
Wow, those spiderman planks look intense. I do a push-up version of these and they kill me! You rock!
Love all of these! Core is by far my favorite. I could do oblique twists and straight up V-ups all day long. Great post!
Bicycle crunches always get me too! I think my favorite of the ones you showed is the stability ball roll-in–so good (and pretty fun too)!
I like all the moves with the stability balls. I love and hate working my abs at the same time.
I’m loving ab exercises lately – maybe not always in the moment, but I like the challenge. My core has gotten a lot stronger through consistent yoga the past several months, and I’d love to buy a stability ball to use at home!
Girl, you are looking DIESEL!
And my favorite core training move would have to be hanging ab raises OR flipping the bosu over and holding a long armed plank for over a minute. TOTALLY wrecks your shoulders as well!
LOVE oblique twists! I use a 5-lb dumbbell. I have found that if I pay attention to my alignment in yoga, then my abs get a great workout. I love working my abs without specifically working my abs. I also love planks.
And your body looks amazing!
Thanks for sharing a great abs workout just when I was in the market for one 🙂 I hate planks but I know they work so I just grin and bear it so I can grin and bare it!
I dread ab work. I really need to suck it up and do more ab workouts. I just do not enjoy it!
Boat pose is my favorite! In cheerleading we call that a taco hold (but you raise your arms above your head)…crazy hard on the abs! Ab exercises are my favorite for sure, they hurt like crazy but I love the sore feeling
Great post! 🙂
I also love the plank and it’s my favorite ab exercise. I almost always incorporate them into all of the classes I teach!
This is a really cool post Tina! I never thought to do an oblique v-crunch! I am going to be printing this off and using it in the near future for my abdominal workout!! Thanks 🙂
Tina-your body is looking killer these days! I can’t wait to see your monthly check-in in a few days, you look so good!
On another note, I am slowly getting out of a depressive phase where I was eating too much…your blog has been extremely helpful! I still have about 5 pounds to lose but I am finally making peace wiht my body and myself. Thank you for playing a small part!
Actually the check in will be next week since I keep it the first Saturday of the month and this month has 5 Saturdays in it. I’m anxious for the next round of pics too. Especially since I can feel my body has changed, but giving up the scale too. 🙂
I am going to give some of these a try… although I have to admit – I am a little leary of the exercise ball. A couple of months ago I bought one and as I was doing the “roll ins”, I rolled OFF and into my spin bike 🙂 I had a HUGE knot and bruise on my calf for weeks!! lol I may be just a tad bit klutzy!!
I love doing the stability ball roll-outs (though I think the ab roller is a little more challenging, when I’m in a gym that has one). Can’t wait to try the spiderman planks!
Glad to find your blog!
I love these posts! Thank you!
Ouch, my abs hurt just looking at these pictures! Also, spiderman planks hurt so good 🙂
love this post!! thanks for sharing–core exercises are (for whatever reason) my least favorite to do!
Those V crunches are KILLER!!!!
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