5 exercises to work your abs to exhaustion

IT’S TIME TO push your abs to exhaustion—not to mention, fight the flab—with new abs exercises that are anything but routine. And it’s not just a six-pack you’ll get: Maintain strong abs and you’ll help prevent back pain, boost your agility, and increase your flexibility, says Tom Holland, exercise physiologist and author of Beat The Gym: Personal Trainer Secrets Without the Personal Trainer Price Tag.

With a slow, concentrated effort you’ll be building up to 30-second sets of quality moves—and admiring those washboard abs you’ve always wanted—in no time.

1. Spiderman Plank Crunch

– Start in a traditional plank position with your forearms on the ground and your body perfectly straight.
– Bring your right knee forward toward your right elbow, then return to the plank position.
– Repeat by bringing your left knee toward your left elbow.
– That’s one rep. Alternate sides for a total of 10 complete reps.

Holland says: “The plank is pretty much one of the only exercises where you’re getting your entire core. You’re working the front and back of your abdominal area at the same time without any equipment. You’re getting your rectus abdominis, your obliques, and your lower back. It’s so simple and effective that you can do it anywhere.”

2. Cable Rotation

– Stand holding a cable with both hands out in front of you at just under shoulder-height.
– Keeping your arms fixed and straight, and your abs engaged, rotate your upper body to the left, then back to center, and then to the right, and then back to center.
– That’s one rep. Alternate sides for one set of 10 complete reps.

3. Bicycle Crunch

– Lie on your back with your hands behind your head, and your legs raised and bent at 90°.
– Alternate sides by bringing your right elbow toward your left knee, then your left elbow toward your right knee, building up to 60 seconds.
– Try and hold the crunch for a two-count on each side to force a slower, concentrated movement.

Holland says: “With this movement, you’re targeting all three key areas at the same time. It combines a regular crunch, the side-to-side motion that targets the obliques, and the reverse crunch that hits the lower abs.”

4. Cross Crunch

– Lie on your back with arms and legs diagonally out so that your body forms an “X.”
– Keeping arms and legs straight, bring your right hand toward your left foot, then your left hand toward your right foot, lifting your head, neck, and shoulders off the ground.
– That’s one rep. Aim for one complete set of 10 reps.

Holland says: “It’s a simple exercise, and you’re safe and supported on the ground. With the legs coming off the floor, you’re getting your lower abs. And because you’re coming at an angle, you’re hitting your obliques and your rectus abdominis, too.”

5. Swiss Ball Rollout

– Kneel on a mat with your hands on a Swiss stability ball.
– Keeping your back straight and your abs engaged, roll the ball as far away from you as you can, then slowly roll back to starting position.
– Aim for two sets of 10 rollouts.

Holland says: “This move is like the abs wheel, but it’s much safer and easier on the lower back. It targets your rectus abdominis because you’re staying in one plane. If you want to add another element, rolling out at a 45° angle to the left and right challenges the obliques.”

By Mens Fitness Editors

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