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All About Abs

26 min
 · 
11 exercises
Cable Core Rotation
3 sets
12 reps
Upward Cable Wood Chops
3 sets
12 reps
Standing Side Bends
3 sets
20 reps
Renegade Rows
3 sets
12 reps
Bicycles
3 sets
45 secs
Medicine Ball V-Ups
3 sets
15 reps
Plank Leg Lifts
3 sets
15 reps
Lying Leg Raises
3 sets
15 reps
Seated Bench Leg Pull-Ins
3 sets
20 reps
Weighted Russian Twists
3 sets
15 reps
Captain's Chair Leg Raises
3 sets
15 reps
This All About Abs 26 min-minute gym workout plan effectively targets your abs and back. Easily follow this workout with confidence on your phone or printable exercise program with our clear exercise demonstrations. You can also look up step-by-step instructions for each of the 11 exercises and see which muscle groups they target. Enjoy!

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All About Abs
26 min
 · 
11 exercises
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Cable Core Rotation
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Obliques
  1. Adjust the pulley handle to chest height. Step out and away from the weight. Feet are shoulder-width. Stand with a tight core and flat back. Push the handle out in front of you. Keep elbows slightly bent.
  2. Twist from the hips. Move arms across the body, achieving a full extension.
  3. Return to starting position.
  4. Once complete, do the same amount of sets/reps on the other side.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Obliques, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Hamstrings
  1. Secure a firm grip with both hands on an appropriately weighted dumbbell. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Begin by moving the dumbbell up and over towards your right side.
  2. Twist your body to bring the dumbbell down and to the left. Bend at the knees and drop your hips slightly. Make the motion of placing the dumbbell on the ground.
  3. Repeat the movement, taking the dumbbell back up and overhead. Keep your arms straight throughout.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Lower Back
  1. Sit on an exercise mat with your legs fully extended and your upper body upright.
  2. Grip a weight plate between both hands.
  3. Hold the plate out in front of your abdominals keeping your arms bent slightly.
  4. Cross your your ankles and raise them off the floor slightly.
  5. Bend your knees towards you slightly.
  6. Lean back about 15 degrees to balance your body. This is the start position.
  7. In a smooth motion,turn your torso to the left and touch the plate on the floor. Make sure you exhale as you do this.
  8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
  9. Repeat the same movement, this time to your right side, again exhaling as you do so.
  10. Return to start position and repeat.

When performing this exercise, use smooth controlled movements. Jerking or using momentum to swing the weight can cause serious lower back injury.

Upward Cable Wood Chops
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Shoulders
  1. Stand with your side to the cable machine. Grab the handle with the opposing hand first. Keep a flat back and tight core throughout the movement. Squat down by bending your knees and driving your hips back.
  2. Keeping your feet in position, rise and twist the weight to the opposite side of your body.
  3. Pause, contract the muscle and slowly return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
  1. Adjust the pulley lever to be above you. Stand next to a pulley machine with your left side. Grab the handle with both hands. Brace your core and separate your feet to outside of shoulder width.
  2. Begin the movement by twisting with your obliques to pull the handle down and across your body.
  3. Once the handle is on the right side of your body, pause and slowly return the handle to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Obliques, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Hamstrings
  1. Secure a firm grip with both hands on an appropriately weighted dumbbell. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Begin by moving the dumbbell up and over towards your right side.
  2. Twist your body to bring the dumbbell down and to the left. Bend at the knees and drop your hips slightly. Make the motion of placing the dumbbell on the ground.
  3. Repeat the movement, taking the dumbbell back up and overhead. Keep your arms straight throughout.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
  1. Stand with your feet no wider than shoulder width apart and hold the medicine ball with one hand at either side in front of your chest.
  2. Rotate your body from the waist up to the left side and raise the medicine ball over your left shoulder, not quite fully extending your arms. Be sure to get extra reach by pointing your right toe.
  3. Using a chopping motion, bring the ball diagonally across the front of your body so that the ball ends on the outer side of your right shin.
  4. Bring the ball straight up the right side of your body and again move diagonally across your body once again to complete the motion.
Standing Side Bends
3 sets
20 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
  1. Stand straight, your feet shoulder width apart, while holding a dumbbell in your left hand with your palm facing in to your body.
  2. Place your right hand on your waist, palm facing in. This is the start position.
  3. Keeping your back and head straight, bend only from your waist to the right. Inhale as you bend.
  4. Continue as far as possible, then hold for a count of one.
  5. Return to the start position, exhaling as you do so.
  6. Repeat the movement this time bending to the left and returning to the start position.
  7. Complete all repetitions holding the dumbbell with your left hand before changing hands.

This exercise can be performed with a kettlebell or a plate weight.

Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
  1. Lie on a padded surface on your left side. Stack your legs and bring your right hand behind your head. Lie your left arm in front of you or across your body. Brace your core.
  2. Pulling from the obliques, bring your elbow up and towards your feet. Do NOT pull yourself with your hand.
  3. Pause and feel the contraction in your obliques then slowly return to the starting position.
Renegade Rows
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Chest, Triceps
  1. Place two dumbbells or kettlebells on the floor about shoulder width apart.
  2. In a push up position, place your hands on the grip section of each bell for support.
  3. Spread your legs to slightly wider than hip width apart with your toes supporting your weight. This is the start position.
  4. Push down through one bell and at the same time “row” the opposite one upwards by retracting your shoulder and bending your elbow.
  5. Hold for a count of one.
  6. Your breathing should remain constant throughout the movement.
  7. Lower the bell to the floor and without pause, then repeat the movement with your other arm.
  8. When you have rowed both arms, that is one repetition.
  9. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

This is an advanced level exercise. Lower strength and poor form has the potential for injury to the middle and lower back and wrists.

Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
  1. Lean forward into an incline bench
  2. Using a neutral grip, hold a dumbbell in each hand so your palms are facing in.
  3. Your arms should be fully extended and hanging straight down. This is the start position.
  4. Pull your shoulder blades back and flex your elbows to pull the dumbbells up to your sides.
  5. Hold and squeeze your shoulder and back muscles.
  6. Return to the start position in a slow, controlled movement.
  7. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
  1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
  2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.
Bicycles
3 sets
45 secs
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
  1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
  3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
  4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
  5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
  6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
  7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
  8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
  9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.

Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
  1. Lie on your back. Bring your knees up to a 90-degree angle. Shins should be parallel to the floor. Place your hands behind your head and bring your shoulders off the ground.
  2. Exhale and contract your abdominals. Bring your head towards your knees while moving your knees toward your chest.
  3. Pause and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
  1. Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
  3. Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
  4. Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
  5. Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
  6. When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
  7. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
  2. Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
  3. Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Medicine Ball V-Ups
3 sets
15 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Lie face up on with a medicine ball between your hands and your arms extended behind you. Keep your arms and legs straight and then raise your feet an inch off the floor.
  2. Raise your torso and legs up at the same time and touch the medicine call to your feet. Hold for a moment.
  3. Lower down to starting position with arms and ball behind your head.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
  1. Position yourself on a decline bench so that your feet are secured by the pads. Lay back and place your arms across your chest or behind your head.
  2. Begin the movement by pulling yourself up by your abdominals. Do not force yourself up by pulling on your neck. Let your abs do all the work.
  3. Once at the top, slowly lower yourself back down. Again, focus on the abs doing all of the work. Repeat by bringing yourself back up.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
  1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
  2. Hold a plate, dumbbell, kettlebell, or medicine ball securely above your head.
  3. Keep your elbows locked.
  4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
  5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
  6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
  7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
  8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
  9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.

Make sure the weight is held very securely!

Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
  1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
  2. Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
  3. Keep your elbows in  so that they are parallel to your body.
  4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
  5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
  6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
  7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
  8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
  9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Plank Leg Lifts
3 sets
15 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Lie on a mat and position yourself in a plank position. Place your elbows on the floor beneath your shoulders. Your toes should touch the floor and your torso should be lifted in a straight line.
  2. Engage your core muscles and lift one foot off the floor. Keep the rest of your body as still as you can. Your heel should lift until it is in line with your buttocks.
  3. Slowly lower the leg to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.
Lying Leg Raises
3 sets
15 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
  2. Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
  3. Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
  4. Return to starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
  2. Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
  3. Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
  2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
  3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.
Seated Bench Leg Pull-Ins
3 sets
20 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Sit on the end of a bench with your legs fully extended in front of you angled towards the floor slightly.
  2. Grip the sides of the bench for stability.
  3. Leaning back to about a 45-degree angle from the bench. This is the start position.
  4. Pull your knees in toward you at the same time moving your torso towards them. Make sure you exhale as you perform this part of the movement. Hold for a count of one.
  5. Return to the start position by extending your legs out and relaxing your abdominal muscles. Breathe in as you do this. Pause and repeat.

This exercise can also be performed on the floor by placing your arms to the sides and raising your legs off the floor slightly. slightly over the floor. More advanced athletes can use a dumbbell between their feet or attach a pulley to them for added resistance.

Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
  2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
  3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
  2. Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
  3. Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
  4. Return to starting position.
Weighted Russian Twists
3 sets
15 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Lower Back
  1. Sit on an exercise mat with your legs fully extended and your upper body upright.
  2. Grip a weight plate between both hands.
  3. Hold the plate out in front of your abdominals keeping your arms bent slightly.
  4. Cross your your ankles and raise them off the floor slightly.
  5. Bend your knees towards you slightly.
  6. Lean back about 15 degrees to balance your body. This is the start position.
  7. In a smooth motion,turn your torso to the left and touch the plate on the floor. Make sure you exhale as you do this.
  8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
  9. Repeat the same movement, this time to your right side, again exhaling as you do so.
  10. Return to start position and repeat.

When performing this exercise, use smooth controlled movements. Jerking or using momentum to swing the weight can cause serious lower back injury.

Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
  1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
  3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
  4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
  5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
  6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
  7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
  8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
  9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.

Captain's Chair Leg Raises
3 sets
15 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Place your forearms are on the pads or bars of the apparatus you are using and grip the handles or bars. Your arms should be bent at 90 degrees and your upper arms in a straight line with your sides.
  2. Your torso should be straight and your lower back pressed against the pad of the bench if using one.
  3. Keep your legs extended and pointing down to the floor. This is the start position.
  4. Exhale and as you do so, lift your legs up in a smooth arc bending at the knees until your thighs are about parallel to the floor. Hold for a count of one.
  5. Return to the start position in a smooth, controlled movement while inhaling.
  6. Repeat.

Do not use momentum or swing your legs to perform this exercise. As your strength increases, you can rotate your pelvis forward at the top of the movement to engage more of your lower abdominal muscles. You can also keep your legs fully extended throughout the movement to increase the resistance and difficulty of the exercise.

Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
  1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
  2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
  3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
  1. Stand a dumbbell on one of its plates about 2 feet away from the edge of a bench and sit comfortably on the edge of that bench, using you hand-grip for support. Fully extend your legs towards the dumbbell.
  2. Using your amazing foot-eye coordination, pin each foot underneath the top plate of the standing dumbbell, on either side of its bar.
  3. Bring your knees in towards your chest, taking care not to drop the dumbbell in the process, and hold them as close as you can to your chest for 1 second.
  4. Extend the legs back down towards the floor to the starting position.
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