Best Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core

Ab exercises alone aren't enough

Well-defined abs are something most of us would love to have. So how do you actually get there, and which ab exercises should you choose? How do you get rid of that layer covering your abs? Keep one thing in mind: training your abs alone will not be enough. To reveal your abdominal muscles you also need to lower your overall body fat — in other words, you need to lose weight. There's no such thing as spot reduction (you can't lose fat from just your stomach and nowhere else); fat comes off "everywhere" more or less at once. A good diet and smart food choices will help you get there alongside your training.

The most effective ab exercises

Crunches

One of the most basic ab exercises there is.

Lie down on a firm surface, bend your knees, and place your hands behind your head.
Start lifting your upper back off the floor, keeping your lower back flat throughout.
Once you reach the top position, lower back down slowly and under control.
Don't rest your back on the floor at the bottom — keep the tension on and move straight into the next rep.
Do 10–15 smooth, controlled reps, focusing as much as possible on squeezing your abs.

Stability ball crunches

This version is often more comfortable, mainly because it puts less strain on your lower back.

Lie back on the ball so your lower back is supported by it, hands behind your head.
Lift your upper body as if you were trying to bring your chest toward your legs.
Lower back down slowly to the starting position. Again, aim for 10–15 reps.

Bicycle crunches

Lie on a firm surface, hands behind your head.
Raise your legs until your thighs are roughly perpendicular to the floor.
Start pedalling your legs as if riding a bicycle.
Do 15–20 reps.

One more time, for good measure: ab exercises on their own won't be enough.