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

1. Crunch
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!!

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5-Minute Ab Workout

We all want tight abs, but sometimes we need a new workout to give us some new motivation we need to work them as hard as we should. Here’s a new ab circuit from Steve Pfiester at LiveExercise.com. Give it a try!

15 Toes to Bar (Modification: Knee Ups or V Ups)

15 Roll Ups (Right)

15 Roll Ups (Left)

15 Oblique Crunch (Right)

15 Side Plank Pulses (Right)

15 Oblique Crunch (Left)

15 Side Plank Pulses (Left)

3 Rounds
(each round is under 5 minutes)

Follow along with Steve at Live X:

Try more insane workouts for 14 Days Free!

Become a LiveExercise affiliate.

30 Days of Motivation: The Truth About Training Your Abs

In yesterday’s blog I talked about how it would take 8,250 sit ups to erase one cheeseburger. Why did I pick sit ups for the exercise? I didn’t choose it because it’s the most effective exercise. I chose to use sit ups as my example simply because many people are still under the impression you can work your belly off with ab exercises.

While many people would say it’s a “no-brainer”, that you need to do cardio to burn calories (or stored fat) over doing a specific exercise to target one area, tell that to the millions of people who spend their hard-earned money on silly ab-flattening devices. Why? Because dumping money on a chance to get abs with ease is a lot more tempting than trimming down the hard (and right) way.

If you want to lose your belly fat, tighten your midsection, and see a six-pack, here are 25 ways to waste your money.

25 Ab Gadgets You DON’T Need

1. Ab Rocket
2. Ab Glider
3. Ab Lounge
4. Six Second Abs
5. Ab Roller
6. Ab Rocker
7. Ab Wheel
8. Ab Doer
9. Ab Flyer
10. Ab Force
11. Abs of Steel
12. Ab Coaster
13. Go-Fit Core Ab Ball
14. Flex Belt Abs Toner
15. Waist Trimmer
16. The Crazy Abs
17. Ab Energizer
18. Ab Circle Pro
19. Semi-Recumbent Ab Bench
20. Abmat Abdominal Exerciser
21. Slendertone Abdominal Muscle Toner
22. Body by Jake Abs Exerciser
23. Ab Rocket Twister
24. Velform Sauna Belt
25. Multi Core Flex Pro Ab Gym

NOTE: If you are bowing up right now, and about to post a comment telling me how much you love your Ab Wheel, hold your breath. I’m not saying that some of the ab devices don’t actually work your abs (although most of the items on the list are junk). What I’m saying is, you don’t need them to get great abs – plain and simple! 🙂

Fact or Fiction: You Can Target Belly Fat

If you REALLY want to get rid of all those past mistakes stuck to your belly, you need to improve your diet and do cardio. There’s really no other way around it. You can’t target fat, and isolate what you want to lose, and what you don’t. Answer is No. You can’t target belly fat.

For instance, you can’t hop on the Ab Wheel and lose just belly fat, just as much as you can’t do a bunch of cardio to just lose belly fat – but here’s what you CAN expect.

Ab Machines: Tighten, strengthen, build, and tone specific muscles.
Tip: Ab machines are great for tightening stomach muscles, which can make it easier to hold your stomach in, and keep your tummy flat. They also can help build each individual abdominal muscle (the “cube-like” squares) so your abs have that six-pack appearance. The leaner you get, the more definition you will see.

Cardio Machines: Burn calories, burn fat, and improve overall muscle tone. 
Tip: Cardio helps melt the fat that covers your abdominal muscles. If you do cardio that incorporates upper body movement, like boxing, running, elliptical, and aerobics, you can increase calorie burn and tighten the core from the rotation in your upper body. However, the primary reason most people do cardio is to burn calories to manage weight.

Diet: Controls body weight, body fat, and muscle mass.
Tip: Even if you do abs exercises, and do a ton of cardio, none of that matters if you replace the calories burned by just eating more food. That’s why diet is SO important while on the quest for six-pack abs.

Here is a great workout that will get your heart rate up, as well as tone your core!

5-Minute Abs Circuit

Do each exercise for 60 seconds each, back to back, with little to no rest between exercises. I use the Gymboss Interval Timer to track my time.

1. Burpees
2. Sit Ups
3. Oblique Crunch (L)
4. Oblique Crunch (R)
5. Plate Crunch 25lb plate or 15lb-25lb dumbbell

Repeat 3 – 5 times

Today’s Motivational Quote:

THE SIX-PACK: 6 Awesome Ab Workouts

In a Crunch (Literally!)?

I know how easy it is to get bored of workouts, but there really is life outside of traditional crunches and sit-ups. It just takes a little imagination, knowledge or guidance from a pro like my hubby Steve. Over the last year Steve has come up with some great workouts – and ab workouts are always a fav! I mean, who doesn’t want great abs?!

Here are some of my favorite ab exercises that Steve put together for various brands and workout programs – and as you can tell in his pic, they work! Not only will they give you a great workout too, but you’ll learn some new moves to broaden your exercise library.

Give them a try and let us know which one you like the most!

#1 Four-Minute Abs

20 Rock Climbers
20 Figure 8 Ball Pass
20 Reverse Crunch
20 Ball Crunch
4 ROUNDS

#2 Core & Cardio Workout

Thrusters
Left Handed 2-Point Stance
Right Handed 2-Point Stance
Left Elbow Plank with Pulses
Right Elbow Plank with Pulses

#3 Abs & Core Circuit with Balance Ball

25 Rotational Crunches
25 Dynamic Plank
25 Take It or Leave It
25 Oblique Side Bend

#4 Design Your Abs Workout

25 Sit Ups
25 Roll Ups or Toes to Bar
25 Oblique Sit Ups (25 on each side – 50 total)

Repeat 3 Times.

#5 Core & Glutes

Plank (10 seconds)
Upward Facing Dog (10 seconds)
10 Rounds

Sunbird Leg 3-Position Leg Lifts
10 circles per position (back, 45 degree, 90 degree)
3 Rounds

Plank + Knee to Opposite Elbow (a sit-through)
10 times on each side

REPEAT ENTIRE CIRCUIT

#6 BCx Core

25 Sit-ups
25 Crunches
25 Obliques (Left)
25 Obliques (Right)
25 Bicycles