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Simple Ab Exercises

15 Simple Yet Effective Ab Exercises You Can Do at Home

Jun 9 2018

A superbusy lifestyle means that you can't always make it to the gym — but at-home workouts don't always have to be a drag. You can work out your core and build a good set of abs in the process by working out in your bedroom, living room, or anywhere in your home. No matter how busy your day, you can always sneak a quick ab workout into your routine. You'll be seeing results in no time.

Ready to mix up your routine? We've rounded up 15 easy and challenging ab workouts you can do without leaving your home.

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Seated Russian Twist

You can do this quick ab exercise in your living room.

  • Sit on the ground with your knees bent, pull your abs to your spine, and lean back a few inches while keeping your back straight.
  • Hold your hand at your chest, and twist your torso to the right, then to the left to complete one rep.
  • Continue twisting from side to side for 15 reps.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kathryna Hancock

V-Sits

Test out your balance and build a strong core with V-sits.

  • Lie on your back, and reach your arms rigidly to your side, off the floor. Lift your legs off the floor, and point them, so they are at about a 45-degree angle. Lift your head, so your shoulders are off the floor as well.
  • When you're ready to begin, lift your upper torso off the floor, and bend your knees. You can lean back to make this move harder or come up more to make it easier. Slowly lower your upper body back down to the floor, straightening out your legs as you do so. Stop when your back is on the floor, but not your head, shoulders, or legs.
  • This completes one rep.
  • Perform 25 reps.
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Pilates Scissor

You don't need any fancy equipment to work on sculpting sexy abs.

  • Lie on your back with both legs in the air and your head and shoulders off the ground; hold your right ankle as you lower your left leg toward the floor. This completes one rep.
  • Keep your abs pulled to your spine, and switch legs.
  • Do 20 reps, alternating sides.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kathryna Hancock

Reverse Crunch

Tackle your lower abs with this fun variation of a crunch.

  • Lie on your back on the floor. Place your hands on the floor beside you.
  • Bring your knees in toward your chest with your feet together.
  • Use your abs to slowly curl your hips off the floor and into your chest, then slowly lower them back to the starting position to complete one.
  • Repeat for one minute. Don't swing your legs to create momentum; use your abs to control your movement.
  • Repeat 2-3 times.
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Bicycle Crunches

Couldn't make it to the gym? Grab your mat and work out your upper abdominals and side obliques.

  • Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground (pull down your abs to also target your deep abs). Put your hands behind your head.
  • Bring in your knees toward your chest, and lift your shoulder blades off the ground.
  • Straighten out your right leg to about a 45-degree angle to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow toward your left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.
  • Now switch sides, and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep (and to create the pedaling motion).
  • Perform 25 reps.
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Crunchy Frog

Feel bad about not making it to the gym? This fun move will have you sweating up a storm.

  • Begin sitting, balanced just behind your sits bones, and rock back slightly to lift your feet off the floor; gently pull your knees to your chest.
  • Exhale, pull your navel to your spine, and lean back slightly as you open your arms to the sides and straighten your legs.
  • Inhale and return to the starting position to complete one rep.
  • Do 20 reps.
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Resistance Band Flutter Kicks

If resistance bands are your thing, you'll love this move. Create a spacious environment in your living room, and get going!

  • Sit on a mat or carpeted floor. Loop one handle of the resistance band on either foot. Hold onto the middle of the tube with both hands, and lie on your back.
  • Draw your navel toward your spine, and press your low spine into the floor to protect your lower back, then lift both legs up so they are almost pointing straight up toward the ceiling.
  • Holding the band securely, scissor your legs up and down one at a time, starting with the left leg. Move slowly, and point your toes. Each time your right foot lowers down counts as one set. Complete 10 to 15 sets.
  • To make this move more difficult, lower your legs so they are about six to 10 inches above the floor — illustrated in the lower image. Make sure to keep your abs scooped when you work with your legs close to the ground. Scissor your legs for another 10 to 15 sets.
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Double Crunch

A quiet night at home isn't complete without a quick sweat session to let out your stress. This ab workout targets your lower abs and core.

  • Lie on your back on the floor, raising your arms and legs to a 90-degree angle.
  • Engage your abs to lift both your shoulders and pelvis off the ground. Touch your fingers to your toes.
  • Keeping your core engaged the entire time, slowly lower them back to the starting position to complete one rep.
  • Do 20 reps.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Megan Wolfe

Toe-Touch Crunches

Missed your after-work gym sesh? You can still make big progress on your dream abs with this variation of a crunch.

  • Lie on your back, and lift your legs and arms up so they are extended toward the ceiling. Lift your upper back off the floor, reaching your hands toward your feet.
  • Lower your legs toward the floor while reaching your arms overhead, keeping your shoulders off the mat and lower back pressed into the mat.
  • Repeat the crunch motion to complete one rep.
  • Perform 10 reps.
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Basic Crunch

Nothing wrong with sticking to the classics. This old favourite is easy to do on your bedroom floor.

  • Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet about 12 inches from your butt. Put your hands behind your ears.
  • Focusing on your core muscles, lift your head and shoulders and raise up until your head, shoulders, and back are off the floor. Keep your belly button pulled in. Lower back down to complete one rep.
  • Perform 15 reps.
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Half Banana

Why hit the gym when you can transform your home into a custom ab class?

  • Start lying on your back with your arms reaching toward the ceiling.
  • Exhale and roll up toward sitting while lifting your left leg up. Pause at the top and reach for your toes before rolling down slowly back to the mat. This completes one rep.
  • Repeat, lifting the right leg as you roll up toward sitting.
  • Continue alternating sides for a total of 20 reps.
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T-Cross Sit-Up

You'll feel that amazing burn, even if you didn't make it to the gym.

  • Begin lying on the floor with your legs straight and arms out wide to the sides, making a T with your body.
  • In a slow and controlled motion, sit up, lifting your right leg and twisting to the right to bring your left hand to your right toes. Hold this position for a moment, pulling your abs toward your spine.
  • Slowly roll down to return to the starting position to complete one rep. Repeat on the other side.
  • Perform 15 reps.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kathryna Hancock

Twisting Side Plank

Your side abs will look better than ever with this twisting side plank.

  • Come into a side plank on your right side, with your feet stacked one on top of the other and your weight on your right elbow with your fingers reaching away from your body, palms down.
  • Place your left arm behind your head, and inhale to prepare.
  • Exhale and pull your navel to your spine to engage your deep abs, and rotate your left rib cage toward the floor. Stay there for a second, and deepen your abdominal connection by pulling your navel in toward your spine even more.
  • Return to starting position, and repeat seven more times for a total of eight reps, then switch sides. Repeat series again on both sides.
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Double Leg Lifts

Make use of that mat you have stored in your bedroom closet and work on creating a stronger core.

  • Lay flat on the ground with your legs extended straight up toward the ceiling. Place your hands underneath the back of your head. For added stability, Austin recommends laying your arms out to your side, allowing the palms to grip the floor much like you would in a push-up position.
  • Pressing your lower back into the ground, slowly lower both legs down toward the floor, then slowly raise them back up. If this is too difficult, lower them as much as you can, or lower one leg at a time.
  • Complete 10 to 15 reps.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography

Pilates Swimming

Your posture and core will thank you for breaking into this quick and easy workout.

  • Lie on your stomach with your arms reaching overhead, pulling your abs away from the floor to protect and lengthen your lower back. Lift your legs, arms, and head off the mat.
  • Keeping your knees straight, lift your entire right leg and left arm a few inches away from the floor. As you lower your right leg and left arm, lift your left leg and right arm away from the mat to complete one rep.
  • Continue alternating sides in a slow controlled manner, keeping your torso stable, for a total of 20 reps.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography

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