Ab Workouts

Your abs include the rectus abdominis down the front of your stomach and the obliques along your sides. They bend and twist your torso and, just as importantly, keep your spine steady when you lift, run or carry things.

A good ab workout combines exercises that bend the spine, like crunches and reverse crunches, exercises that twist, like bicycle crunches, and exercises that resist movement, like planks.

Ab Workouts With Step-By-Step Guides

Bicycle CrunchBodyweight · BeginnerThe bicycle crunch is an ab exercise where you lie on your back and bring one elbow toward the opposite knee while…Cable CrunchCable · BeginnerThe cable crunch is a kneeling ab exercise where you hold a rope attached to a high pulley and crunch your torso…CrunchBodyweight · BeginnerThe crunch is a floor exercise where you curl your head and shoulders off the ground by shortening your abs.Dead BugBodyweight · BeginnerThe dead bug is a core exercise done lying on your back with your arms pointing at the ceiling and your knees…Leg RaiseBodyweight · BeginnerThe leg raise is an ab exercise where you lie on your back and raise your straight legs up toward the ceiling,…Pallof PressCable · BeginnerThe Pallof press is an anti-rotation core exercise.PlankBodyweight · BeginnerThe plank is a core exercise where you hold your body in a straight line from head to heels, supported on your…Reverse CrunchBodyweight · BeginnerThe reverse crunch is an ab exercise where you lie on your back and curl your hips off the floor, bringing your…Russian TwistBodyweight · BeginnerThe Russian twist is a seated core exercise where you lean back slightly, lift your chest and rotate your torso from side…

How To Build An Ab Workout

  • Pick one crunch-style exercise, such as a crunch, cable crunch or reverse crunch.
  • Add one exercise for the obliques, such as a bicycle crunch or Russian twist.
  • Finish with a hold like a plank, or an anti-movement exercise like the Pallof press.
  • Do 2-3 sets of each, two to four times per week. Slow, controlled reps beat fast ones.

Related Exercise Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Do Ab Workouts?

Two to four times per week is plenty. Like any muscle, your abs need some recovery between hard sessions.

Will Ab Workouts Give Me A Six-Pack?

Ab exercises build the muscle, but visible abs depend mostly on overall body fat, which comes down to diet and activity.

What Is The Best Ab Exercise?

There is no single best one. A mix of crunches, rotation and plank-style holds trains every part of your abs.

Our guides are for general information only. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Read our medical disclaimer.