Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fitness

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Best Ab Workouts: Rediscover Your Abs With These 5 Exercises

Amber Sayer
By
Man doing ab workout in his living room.

You can do some of the best ab workouts from anywhere, not just the gym. For a lot of people, working remotely and working out at home has become the new normal. A strong abdominal region can still help prevent injuries in all aspects of our everyday lives. A strong core can help us not only be a better runner, cyclist, or athlete, it can also help us perform our day-to-day tasks with much greater efficiency.

The process of gaining a strong core doesn’t just happen in the blink of an eye. It will require eating a nutrient-rich diet and engaging in a regular concentration of ab exercises, all while limiting those take-out pizza indulgences. You wouldn’t dare skip leg day, so why would you consider skipping your lower abs or obliques?

There are alternatives for reaching those fitness goals and achieving abdominal success from the safety of your own home. Fortunately for you, most don’t require recurring monthly fees, expensive at-workout equipment, or even a lot of space. All you need is some motivation to get away from that desk and start working out.

Related

Here are five ab exercises that you can incorporate into any workout, such as upper body workouts or even cardio days.

Ab Wheel

Man doing ab wheel in a home gym.

Equipment needed: Ab Wheel

Here’s how to do it:

  • Kneel on the floor with knees positioned on a soft mat or folded towel. 
  • Slowly roll the wheel forward while tightening the core and with arms fully extended until your body is parallel to the floor. 
  • While maintaining form, roll the wheel back to the starting position. That’s one rep. 

Note: If you are new to using an ab wheel, start slow and focus on form. And don’t overdo it on day one. You will want to be able to get out of bed and out of your car without agony.

Read more: Best Home Workout Equipment

Russian Twist

Bulky man doing Russian twist.

Equipment needed: Medicine ball. You can also use a weight plate, dumbbell, kettlebell, or anything heavy found at home, such as a gallon of water.

Here’s how to do it: While sitting on the floor in the up position for a sit-up, grasp the medicine ball with both hands while extending your arms out in front of you. Twist your body from one side to the other while keeping your arms extended. 

Plank

Man planking in his bedroom.

Equipment needed: None

Here’s how to do it: Start on all fours, and proceed as if you were going to do a push-up. Bend your elbows and allow your forearms to rest on the floor while keeping your elbows under your shoulder. Extend your legs out behind your body, forming a straight line down the entire length of your body. Hold for as long as you can. Continue doing this until you can do it with ease, and then increase by five to 10 seconds each time.

Read more: How to Do a Plank

Side Plank Dips

Man doing side dip planks in his home.

Equipment needed: None

Here’s how to do it: Start in a right-side plank, with your right forearm on the floor, your left hand on your hip, and your left leg resting atop the right. Slowly lower your hips toward the floor a few inches and return to the beginning position. Do 10 reps on each side.

Dead Bug

Man doing dead bug.

Equipment needed: None

Here’s how to do it: Start out by lying face-up on the floor with your arms straight up over your chest. Lift your legs directly over your hips and bend your knees to form a 90-degree angle. While keeping your lower back in contact with the floor, simultaneously lower your right arm back past your head while straightening your left leg toward the floor until both come close but without touching. Pause, then return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. That is one rep. Do 10 to 15 reps.

Second-guessing whether you’re doing your crunches the right way? Check out our guide on how to do crunches correctly so you can achieve those rock-hard abs.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The best Peloton instructors to match your workout vibe
If you're new to Peloton, here's our guide to help you choose the best trainer to suit your needs and style
Peloton bike at home.

Peloton has become one of the most famous brands in the world of fitness since it was founded back in January 2012. The first Peloton bike was sold in February 2012, and since then, Peloton has become a multi-million dollar business. The main reason for this success is that it offers gym-style workouts without the need for customers to leave the comfort of their own homes.

It's not just the Peloton bikes that have become famous; even the Peloton instructors have become celebrities because of the large international customer base that Peloton has attracted.

Read more
Self-care tips for men: A complete guide to feeling your absolute best
Self-care tips: They're not just for the ladies. Here's how men can feel their best.

Quick, without thinking, what comes to your mind when you think of self-care? Do you automatically envision a woman pampering herself in a bubble bath? Or a room dimly lit by candles as she sips a glass of wine while reading Fifty Shades of Grey? Well, the truth is, at its core, self-care is a set of rituals, regimens, or practices (it can be as simple as you'd like) that help individuals recharge, re-center, and achieve balance in their own well-being and happiness. Self-care takes work and time and is more than just pampering yourself. And yes, it's something men should absolutely put to practice as well. Try these self-care tips.

What exactly is self-care and why do men need it?
Self-care is simply the act of taking time to focus on yourself. You allocate certain time during each day, or even just weekly, to put your stressors on the back burner, with the goal of improving your mental health. The past few years have been complete chaos, and as such, an increase and focus on mental health has taken center stage. Over one in three adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic, which means practicing self-care in any capacity should become a priority.

Read more
Are infrared saunas worthy of the hype? What you need to know
What's the deal with infrared saunas? We found out for you
infrared sauna

The wellness space is constantly evolving. There’s no shortage of trends and buzzwords. “Detoxify” is a big one, and proponents of traditional saunas have long purported that a sweat session in one could help you release toxins.

In the latter half of the 2010s, a new trend emerged in the spa space: Infrared saunas. Makers swore that the special infrared lamps that utilize electromagnetic radiation to heat your body directly lead to a better — more detoxifying, even — experience.

Read more