20 Terrific Tummy Tightening Exercises
There are a lot more exercises to work your abs than just crunches. Unfortunately, many people can’t think of more than 3 or 4 abdominal exercises, so they get tired of the few they know pretty quick.
ABsolutely Awesome Give-A-Way
Today I’m going to not only give you 20 of some of my favorite ab exercises you can put to the test, but I’m going to give you a chance to share some of your favorite exercises for a CHANCE TO WIN a HUGE Designer Whey protein package that will keep you stocked up for the ENTIRE YEAR!!
All you need to do is post your favorite ab exercisE below (even if it’s listed already). In the comments on this blog, post as many exercises as you want (as separate comments) and share it on your social media! Share a whole ab workout if you want! The more you share and the more exercises you comment, the more chances you have to win!! You have until midnight October 6th to enter. I will announce a winner Monday!
20 Terrific Tummy Tightening Exercises
Crunch- Sit-up
- Reverse Crunch
- Cable Crunch or Kneeling Band Crunch
- Plate Crunch
- Bicycle Crunch
- Flutter Kick
- Oblique Crunch
- Snowboarder Crunch
- Crunch And Punch
- Toes to Bar
- Take It Or Leave It Abdominal Crunch
- Snow Angel
- V-up
- Side V-up
- Knee Raise or Hanging Knee Raise
- Plank
- Side Plank
- Pulse Side Plank
- 2-Point Stance
Here is the cool matching graphic for Pinteresters and Instagrammers! 🙂 Have fun!!
Inspire Someone:
Bonnie Pfiester
Owner of Lift Vero and motivational "pfitness, pfood and pfaith" blogger in Vero Beach, Florida.
192 Comments
Becky
Who was the lucky winner of this contest?
Bonnie Pfiester
It was Eva Savage in Kentucky 🙂
chopstix2112
slow bicycle crunch…killer!
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Katie Meneely
Definitely #4! I love the cable crunch. It’s challenging, fun, you can continually add resistance, & it works. Over the last couple years I have worked really hard to lose weight. I started at 315lbs & am currently down to 169lbs. I’ve started lifting heavy the last 6 months or so & have seen dramatic changes in toning in my arms, legs, back & shoulders, but not so much in the abs, until I added in cable crunches a few weeks ago. They really deliver the results I want!! My second fave would def be planks! 😉
sportsnyfan
Toes to Bar
Shannon Sims
Stability Ball Lunge switch ups. Place one leg both lower shin and toes on the ball with the other leg in a bent knee lunge position and your hands on the ground in a pushup formation. Pull forward and raise the floor leg to the ball and as your rolling slightly back place the other leg on the ground. Each push forward you switch your legs. I do 3 sets of 20 on each side. Forced plank with low hip hinge movements for lower ab definition. Bonus, it works back (both lower and upper,) shoulders, chest, legs and butt…But kills abs.
sportsnyfan
Russion Twist
ajohnsont
I also like a three minute workout with 50 seconds on 5 seconds off. The first exercise is toes on a Swiss ball in plank and you tap alternating toes to the floor while balancing on one leg. Second exercise is get ups without using your arms. The third exercise repeats the first. you can only rest 5 seconds between the first and the second
ajohnsont
My favorite exercises are the ones that challenge me, so my favorite ab exercise is plank to Pike with my toes balancing on a body ball or a Swiss ball. Try doing 25 of those without rest. And for even more of a challenge, after each plank do a pushup.
Dionne
Spiderman push-up
sportsnyfan
Knee Raise
Rebecca
I love the good old fashion crunch, with a proper diet I always see results. 🙂
kassiem
I love to v up wit a 45 pound plate n also the bicycle crunch
Nicky
Choices, choices…… Well abs have recently become a much more “welcomed” exercise than ever before, so I have quite a few to list as my favorites! I don’t know the name of this first one, so I have to describe it: My newest favorite right now (that still has an affect on me currently) is one where you lay down with legs slightly spread and knees towards ceiling, feet on floor -hold a kettle bell with both hands extended all the way over the top of your head, but do not let it touch the ground behind you, then swing the kettle bell with straight arms up over your head all the way up towards ceiling, then at this point do a sit-up (still straight arms) to where the kettle bell ends up elevated well over your knees! Lay back down to starting position. REPEAT over and over 🙂 My next favorite is alternate side crunches on a very inclined bench that has the little spongy rolls you put your feet under, V-situps and alternate leg/arm V-situps, Dumb bell Russian Twist, Hanging leg raises in front and to the sides, Crunch on the Bosu Ball where you pull your pelvis up and in towards belly button while simultaneously crunching upper body upwards knees.
Amber Haraldsen
Twisting full sit-ups next to a bench step with a weight that you set down on the bench intermittently.
Sarah
Weighted Russian twists 🙂
Kelly
Planks 🙂
Tracy OConnell
I love elevated plank with knee to elbow, head, and other elbow!!
sportsnyfan
Snow Angel
Shelleys
Take It Or Leave It!
Lisa
Bicycle
Ginny
Bicycle crunch!
cheryl
sit ups
Carolyn
V-ups, side V-ups, side planks.
sportsnyfan
Flutter kicks
Stephanie Gibbons
Side plank with leg lifted.
Tracey Mah-Gillies
Hanging leg raises!!!
Peggy McCall Douglas
crunches, planks
Linda Buchanan
Hanging abs, windshield washer hanging abs, straight leg hanging abs
Ria
30 Swiss ball sit ups followed by 30 medicine ball twists, followed by 20 sit ups plus 20 medicine ball twists followed by 10 sit ups and 10 medicine ball twists – really tough but worth it. No rest in between.
Kelly Bacon
Med Ball Slams
Jawad ayub
Oblique crunch
Jawad ayub
Hanging knee raise
Jawad ayub
Plank
sportsnyfan
Side plank
getfitnaturally (@getfitchick)
almost forgot – V-UPS!!!
getfitnaturally (@getfitchick)
also love the Russian twists!
getfitnaturally (@getfitchick)
Love planks!
getfitnaturally (@getfitchick)
I also stumbled the post!
getfitnaturally (@getfitchick)
Hanging Leg Raises!
Karen C
Planks. Plain and boring. Love/ hate them!
Pam P
Hanging Knee Raises
Ashley Donahue
Hanging knee raises! Love them!
Rana
Man it’s so hard to choose. I love them and do them all!! But I would have to say my fav ab exercise would be v up and reverse crunch.
wyattsmommie04
Crunch & Punch
wyattsmommie04
2 Point Stance
wyattsmommie04
Reverse Crunch
Debra Jolly Duque
Doing different types of planks.
Emily
Russian Twists with feet raised off the floor using a 10 lb medicine ball!
Rana
Yes!!! One of my fav.
Norita Bridges
monkey pull ups (pull your knees up to your chest as you pull up)
Norita Bridges
side crunches while hanging from bar
Norita Bridges
knees to elbows
Norita Bridges
Toes to bar
Paul DeMarco
Love my oblique crunches…
Danielle Sainz
V-ups!
Rana
V-ups is where it’s at!!
Loralea McQueen
I belong to 2 bootcamps, one straight up cardio, 2nd one a little bit of cardio and a lot of upper and lower strength training. What I find (that gives me the burn) is: 7, 8, 14, and 19. Love them and hate them at the same time. I was looking at some Whey products yesterday, I wanted to see if could help with before and after recovery. There was too many to choose from so I walked away, needless to say I was a little overwhelmed.
Denise Rae Huggs
I like the standing abs workout I found on a fitness magazines website a couple years ago; dumbbell side bend, standing core stabilization, bow extension, and reverse dumbbell chop.
I had an old work injury that flares up when doing certain exercises, I can do all 4 of these without a problem and I still get nice tone.
Angie Barger
My Favorite ab workout is Kettlebell canoes. Sit on your butt with your feet crossed and legs lifted. Put the weight on one side and move from side to side while not letting your legs drop.
Joey
Planks! Do all the planks!!
Kelly Silveira
Reverse Crunch
Sarah
Leg raises and planks
Kelly Silveira
Planks
Kelly Silveira
Sit-up
Ashley
Stability Ball V-Ups – Killer, but wonderful!
Mary Gillanders
Pulse side planks! I have a LOVE and HATE relationship with these! My abs will hurt for a good day or two after doing these. 🙂
awester
“stirring the pot” With elbows bent and forearms on stability ball, get in plank position. Pull your lower abdominals in and attempt to keep torso stable as your forearms move the ball- 10 times in clockwise direction and 10 times opposite way. Make it more difficulty by raising one foot off the floor.
audimariie
Jackknives, cable crunches, hanging leg raises and weighted side bends.
Alisha Afrank
I love the plate crunch, then come all the way up!
Kristi
Oblique v-ups
Joan Lee
For obliques:
Get into camel pose with (2) 5 lb. weights, lean back and with straight arms twist/rotate side to side slow and controlled. 3 sets of 12 on each side
AnneMichelle johnson
I do pool crunches – hang in the deep end with arm barbells and pull your legs up using only abs. Do obliques also by side pulling. Way hard with the weightlessness!
Aleshia
Bring on the Toe Ups!
Kris Krawczak
Crunch and punch!!! 🙂
Eva Savage
My favorite an exercise is toes to bar!!!!Ouch! They hurt but they work!!!
Kimberley
Hanging leg raises.
emmarachelgray
Great post! My personal favorite (these never fail to produce results) are hanging leg raises with a medicine ball between your knees. Killer burn= Powerful results!!
Deb
Plate crunch
Dorothy RECONOSE
Kneeling Cable ab pull down/crunch
Kandis
I love planks, they are my favorite!!
Jennifer Welch
I didn’t know what planks were until a friend showed me. I have a chronoc pain disease and situp and crunches hurt my back. Planks are now a way to do ab workouts and not hurt so bad. 😉 So PLANKS it is for me!!!
Julie
oblique crunch !! 🙂
Lisa Isham
Planks are my fave!
ednamonterrosa
Russian TwiST, plank on Swiss ball, t push ups, pikes on Swiss ball, reverse crunch,
Sherre
Push up planks
Dawn borders
I love V ups I feel it all over 🙂
Ginny
All those crunches, your lower back will be screamin. I’m a fan of the DVRT lateral bag drag… Most bang for your buck.
Kim
I love Russian twists with a medicine ball!
Desiree Pina
Hanging knee raise with a @25 plate chained to the waist!
Dave
Wood Chop
Amanda Kugatow
I feel the most from hanging leg raises and hanging side knee raises. Its a love/hate thing really!
Melissa Eikenberry
Around the world in 2 minutes! 30 seconds each way! Begin with a face down plank, left side plank, face up plank, and right side plank. Make it more difficult by taking a second trip around the world and add motion to each plank move:) (knee kisses, hip drops, and kick outs)
Tiffany F
Seated knee tucks
Jodi Howe
Mine is still the old stand by Crunch. I have tried Planks but still not good at them. I keep pushing.
Kristi McGregor
Mountain climbers on a BOSU ball.
Tiffany F
Woodchoppers!
wayne
Plank with feet on a med ball
Kristi McGregor
Russian twists with a 40 lb medicine ball.
Melissa Genestra
Bicycle twist.
Susan Fikes
Partner situps with medicine ball!
Melissa Eikenberry
Twist to the fist!
Brenda
Side plank on elbow. Have a 3 or 5 lb weight in opposite hand. Reach under your side with hand weight then reach up above your head.
mama2cj
Planks. They seem so easy to start with but they are deceptive.
Merritt
Leg throw downs!
Loraine Coffman
Dog crunches. I work out with my dog and As I crunch up I lift him.
stephanie
Leg raise throw down using Bodylastics UltraAnchor. BURN BABY! BURN!
Kristi McGregor
Bicycle crunches!!
Brenda
Plank on hands with feet on stability ball–hold for 1 min
chris genore
Weighted Incline crunches w/dumbells
Brenda
Plank with elbows on stability ball & feet on a step–hold for 1 min
Brenda
Sit on stability ball. Holding an 8 lb (or heavier) medicine ball. Feet about shoulder width apart. Lean back while lifting the ball over your head. As you sit up, throw the ball to your partner to catch. The partner will throw it back as you start the process over. **really works!!**
Tina Foster
C-crunch out into an iron cross with shoulder blade OFF the floor at ALL times!
KMarple
GHD sit ups!!! Hurts to sneeze or cough after!
Emmy Hites
Plank- hands to forearms, back up
Mary Blythe
I love planks while moving legs alternately out and in…very effective…
Tanya Moorehead
Plate Crunch
Tammi Fitzwater
Plank
Tammi Fitzwater
bicycle crunches
Becky W
Reverse Crunch and flutter kicks
wayne
Side plank
Courtney M
I L.O.V.E. love toes to bar 🙂
christine Daugherty
Flutter kicks and planks!
Samantha holland
Plank!! Love it!!
Laura
DDPYoga~ Red Hot Core 🙂
Teresa C.
Planks are my favorite!
greeniejoey
Side lunge with a lateral raise
greeniejoey
Wall crunch with a twist. While laying on a stability ball plant your feet on the wall. While maintaining your balance twist to the side.
greeniejoey
Mountain climbers using a stability ball
greeniejoey
Oblique ball roll.
greeniejoey
I don’t know the name for this but I like it! Grab a 5- to 10-pound medicine ball and kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart. Lengthen your spine and press the ball against your abs. Slowly lean back as far as possible, keeping your knees planted. Hold the reclined position for 3 seconds, then use your core to slowly come up to the starting position.
greeniejoey
I love this move! It’s an Arm Pull over Straight-Leg Crunch. Grab a 10 pound weight lie on your back with your arms behind you. Extend your legs at a 45-degree angle. Bring your arms up over your chest and lift your shoulders off the mat while raising your legs until they’re perpendicular to the floor.
greeniejoey
Walk the Plank and Rotate. Get in plank position with your hands on a aerobic step. With your weight on your left arm, rotate your body while raising your right arm toward the ceiling. Return to plank position and step your right arm down to the right of the bench, then your left arm down to the left of the bench.
greeniejoey
Stability Ball Pelvic Tilt Crunch
greeniejoey
Squat sweep. A basic squat with a dumbbell but as you squat you bring the weight to your side twisting your abs as you do.
greeniejoey
Warrior III balance crunch. If you add a weight it helps as well
greeniejoey
Standing oblique crunch with a weight
greeniejoey
Low hover is basically a modified plank with a bend your left knee and lower it to the mat beneath your right knee
greeniejoey
Cardio helps cut down on the waist line as well. 30 minutes every day really does help 🙂
greeniejoey
Pilates t-stand
greeniejoey
Standing side twist
greeniejoey
Ball curls. Seriously a stability ball is genius!
greeniejoey
Dumbbell deadlift
greeniejoey
Lying hip twists
greeniejoey
Mason twists
greeniejoey
Reverse crunches
greeniejoey
Flutter kicks
greeniejoey
Scissor kicks
greeniejoey
Lying leg lifts
greeniejoey
Planking!!!
greeniejoey
Mountain climbers with a twist.
greeniejoey
Pilates!!! You can feel the improvement as you dedicate yourself to a pilates program.
greeniejoey
I love stability ball exercises for my abs!
AshleyM
Love the one where you lay on the ground and a partner tries to throw your feet to the ground while you try to resist
jerseygirl67
spider man planks
jerseygirl67
Weighted Russian Twists
Michelle Fannin
suicide planks
Larissa
V ups
Larissa
Planks all varieties
Rachelle Lane
PLANK! For those who complain about crunches and sit ups – NO EXCUSES!
sportsnyfan
Plank
Ria
7 stairs with your legs – lying down raise and lower your legs so that they get lower every time – as if you are going down stairs 7 times.
wyattsmommie04
Bicycle Crunch
Jamie Keuchel
Russian Twists
Nicole Gonzalez
Russian twists, v-ups, weighted sit ups, in and outs, leg raises, bicycle crunches!!!
jamie smith
Stability ball ab pikes, hanging knee raises and hanging oblique crunches, c-sit star crunches, straight leg raises while on floor (hands under lower back lift and lower legs).
sportsnyfan
Bicycle crunch
Lemons 'n Lyme
spider men
Lemons 'n Lyme
mountain climbers
Lemons 'n Lyme
Russian twists sitting on a bosu
Lemons 'n Lyme
plank suicides
Lemons 'n Lyme
stability ball lateral sit-ups
sportsnyfan
Sit-ups
sportsnyfan
Crunches
Sammy @ Peace Love and Ice Cream
While lying on your back, leg lift + hip raise!
Sammy @ Peace Love and Ice Cream
Planks!!
CarlyJones
Side plank, ab tuck, front plank, knee to ops elbow – (both sides). side plank, (other side), ab tuck. front plank (knee to ops elbow and repeat
Tabitha (@tbb525)
Planks
Tabitha
Crunches
Bridgette Murray
Lying straight-leg raises with a stability ball between your feet. Great for lower abs!
Denise Farris
Planks
missdahm
Planks, hip taps, Russian twist, v-sits, and reverse crunches! 🙂
Steve Small
Cable crunch
Jamie Keuchel
Take it or Leave it!!
Debra L Nettleton
my favs are the jacknife and pick pockets!
Jean
Crunchy frogs!!
Tiffany
My fav ab exercise is the rocking plank!!!
Meghan Grace
Doing the “100” (well OK, the “75”! HA!) on the Pilates Reformer!
Ria
Whilst laying down doing The alphabet with legs A-Z
Ria
Hanging Around The World.
TracyinSC
Stability ball transfers.