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

designer wheyToday 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 enterI will announce a winner Monday

20 Terrific Tummy Tightening Exercises

  1. absCrunch
  2. Sit-up
  3. Reverse Crunch
  4. Cable Crunch or Kneeling Band Crunch
  5. Plate Crunch
  6. Bicycle Crunch
  7. Flutter Kick
  8. Oblique Crunch
  9.  Snowboarder Crunch
  10. Crunch And Punch
  11. Toes to Bar
  12. Take It Or Leave It Abdominal Crunch
  13. Snow Angel
  14. V-up
  15. Side V-up
  16. Knee Raise or Hanging Knee Raise
  17. Plank
  18. Side Plank
  19. Pulse Side Plank
  20. 2-Point Stance

Here is the cool matching graphic for Pinteresters and Instagrammers! 🙂 Have fun!!

20 TUMMY TIGHTENERS

About Bonnie Pfiester

Fitness Columnist and Healthy Lifestyle Coach, Owner of Lift Vero, Transformation Center and Gym in Vero Beach, Florida.

Posted on October 4, 2013, in Abs, Exercise & Training, PFIT TIPS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 192 Comments.

  1. Stability ball transfers.

  2. Hanging Around The World.

  3. Whilst laying down doing The alphabet with legs A-Z

  4. Doing the “100” (well OK, the “75”! HA!) on the Pilates Reformer!

  5. My fav ab exercise is the rocking plank!!!

  6. Crunchy frogs!!

  7. my favs are the jacknife and pick pockets!

  8. Planks, hip taps, Russian twist, v-sits, and reverse crunches! 🙂

  9. Planks

  10. Bridgette Murray

    Lying straight-leg raises with a stability ball between your feet. Great for lower abs!

  11. 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

  12. While lying on your back, leg lift + hip raise!

  13. Crunches

  14. Sit-ups

  15. stability ball lateral sit-ups

  16. Russian twists sitting on a bosu

  17. Bicycle crunch

  18. 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).

  19. Nicole Gonzalez

    Russian twists, v-ups, weighted sit ups, in and outs, leg raises, bicycle crunches!!!

  20. 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.

  21. Plank

  22. PLANK! For those who complain about crunches and sit ups – NO EXCUSES!

  23. Planks all varieties

  24. Weighted Russian Twists

  25. spider man planks

  26. 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

  27. I love stability ball exercises for my abs!

  28. Pilates!!! You can feel the improvement as you dedicate yourself to a pilates program.

  29. Mountain climbers with a twist.

  30. Ball curls. Seriously a stability ball is genius!

  31. Cardio helps cut down on the waist line as well. 30 minutes every day really does help 🙂

  32. Low hover is basically a modified plank with a bend your left knee and lower it to the mat beneath your right knee

  33. Standing oblique crunch with a weight

  34. Warrior III balance crunch. If you add a weight it helps as well

  35. 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.

  36. Stability Ball Pelvic Tilt Crunch

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. Mountain climbers using a stability ball

  41. 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.

  42. Side lunge with a lateral raise

  43. Planks are my favorite!

  44. DDPYoga~ Red Hot Core 🙂

  45. Samantha holland

    Plank!! Love it!!

  46. christine Daugherty

    Flutter kicks and planks!

  47. I L.O.V.E. love toes to bar 🙂

  48. Reverse Crunch and flutter kicks

  49. Tammi Fitzwater

    bicycle crunches

  50. Tammi Fitzwater

    Plank

  51. Tanya Moorehead

    Plate Crunch

  52. I love planks while moving legs alternately out and in…very effective…

  53. Plank- hands to forearms, back up

  54. GHD sit ups!!! Hurts to sneeze or cough after!

  55. C-crunch out into an iron cross with shoulder blade OFF the floor at ALL times!

  56. 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!!**

  57. Plank with elbows on stability ball & feet on a step–hold for 1 min

  58. Weighted Incline crunches w/dumbells

  59. Plank on hands with feet on stability ball–hold for 1 min

  60. Kristi McGregor

    Bicycle crunches!!

  61. Leg raise throw down using Bodylastics UltraAnchor. BURN BABY! BURN!

  62. Loraine Coffman

    Dog crunches. I work out with my dog and As I crunch up I lift him.

  63. Leg throw downs!

  64. Planks. They seem so easy to start with but they are deceptive.

  65. 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.

  66. Melissa Eikenberry

    Twist to the fist!

  67. Partner situps with medicine ball!

  68. Melissa Genestra

    Bicycle twist.

  69. Kristi McGregor

    Russian twists with a 40 lb medicine ball.

  70. Plank with feet on a med ball

  71. Woodchoppers!

  72. Kristi McGregor

    Mountain climbers on a BOSU ball.

  73. Mine is still the old stand by Crunch. I have tried Planks but still not good at them. I keep pushing.

  74. Seated knee tucks

  75. 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)

  76. Amanda Kugatow

    I feel the most from hanging leg raises and hanging side knee raises. Its a love/hate thing really!

  77. Hanging knee raise with a @25 plate chained to the waist!

  78. I love Russian twists with a medicine ball!

  79. All those crunches, your lower back will be screamin. I’m a fan of the DVRT lateral bag drag… Most bang for your buck.

  80. I love V ups I feel it all over 🙂

  81. Russian TwiST, plank on Swiss ball, t push ups, pikes on Swiss ball, reverse crunch,

  82. Planks are my fave!

  83. oblique crunch !! 🙂

  84. 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!!!

  85. I love planks, they are my favorite!!

  86. Dorothy RECONOSE

    Kneeling Cable ab pull down/crunch

  87. 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!!

  88. My favorite an exercise is toes to bar!!!!Ouch! They hurt but they work!!!

  89. Crunch and punch!!! 🙂

  90. Bring on the Toe Ups!

  91. 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!

  92. 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

  93. Oblique v-ups

  94. I love the plate crunch, then come all the way up!

  95. Jackknives, cable crunches, hanging leg raises and weighted side bends.

  96. “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.

  97. 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. 🙂

  98. Stability Ball V-Ups – Killer, but wonderful!

  99. Sit-up

  100. Planks

  101. Leg raises and planks

  102. Reverse Crunch

  103. Planks! Do all the planks!!

  104. 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.

  105. 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.

  106. 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.

  107. V-ups!

  108. Love my oblique crunches…

  109. Toes to bar

  110. knees to elbows

  111. side crunches while hanging from bar

  112. monkey pull ups (pull your knees up to your chest as you pull up)

  113. Russian Twists with feet raised off the floor using a 10 lb medicine ball!

  114. Doing different types of planks.

  115. 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.

  116. Ashley Donahue

    Hanging knee raises! Love them!

  117. Hanging Knee Raises

  118. Planks. Plain and boring. Love/ hate them!

  119. Side plank

  120. Hanging knee raise

  121. Oblique crunch

  122. Med Ball Slams

  123. 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.

  124. Linda Buchanan

    Hanging abs, windshield washer hanging abs, straight leg hanging abs

  125. Tracey Mah-Gillies

    Hanging leg raises!!!

  126. Stephanie Gibbons

    Side plank with leg lifted.

  127. Flutter kicks

  128. V-ups, side V-ups, side planks.

  129. Bicycle crunch!

  130. Take It Or Leave It!

  131. Snow Angel

  132. Tracy OConnell

    I love elevated plank with knee to elbow, head, and other elbow!!

  133. Planks 🙂

  134. Weighted Russian twists 🙂

  135. Amber Haraldsen

    Twisting full sit-ups next to a bench step with a weight that you set down on the bench intermittently.

  136. 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.

  137. I love to v up wit a 45 pound plate n also the bicycle crunch

  138. I love the good old fashion crunch, with a proper diet I always see results. 🙂

  139. Knee Raise

  140. Spiderman push-up

  141. 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.

  142. 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

  143. Russion Twist

  144. 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.

  145. Toes to Bar

  146. 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! 😉

  147. slow bicycle crunch…killer!

  148. Who was the lucky winner of this contest?

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