8 Best Abs Exercises of All Time

Based on workout recommendations from Greenwich personal trainer Danny Fisher, we’ve sifted through some tried-and-tested moves to find the best abs workout you can do from the comfort of your own home. But if you think that means we’re going to be taking it easy on you, you’re wrong. This workout culminates in a gruelling three-circuit superset designed to hit every part of your abs.

Unilateral PowerHouse

This one is great for targeting the deep core muscles and emphasizes good posture.
Do three rounds of the following workout:
20 Dumbbell Renegade Rows
20 Single-Arm Dumbbell Overhead Press with a twist (each side)
8 Split Squats (each side)
30 Dumbbell Suitcase Walking Lunges (each side)
8 Single-leg Squats with Dumbbell Lateral Raise (weight in the hand of the working leg), each side
15 Single-leg Deadlift with Upright Row (each side)
Side plank with 15 dumbbell flyes, each side

No-Crunch Workout

There’s so much stabilizing going on here, your entire core will be burning way more than your abs do after a hundred crunches.
Do three rounds of the following:
20 Lying Bicycle Crunches with Overhead Dumbbell (hold the weight just off the ground, but don’t let it touch)
10 Pushups
1-minute Side Plank
20 Supermans
Side Plank with 15 Dumbbell Flyes (each side)
Forearm Plank Series: Hold a plank for 15 seconds in each position:
– Forearm plank
– Right leg lifted
– Left leg lifted
– Right arm back to hip
– Left-arm back to hip
– Right arm and left leg lifted
– Left-arm and right leg lifted
– Forearm plank

Cardio Core Shred

Get your blood pumping (and the calories burning) with this high-energy workout.
Do three rounds of the following circuit. Rest for one minute between sets:
20 Skater Lunges
20 Mountain Climbers
20 Burpees
20 Knee-to-Shoulder Knee-ins (alternating sides)
1-minute Side Planks
20 Knee-to-Opposite-Shoulder knee-ins

Plank Variations

Because holding still in a simple forearm plank for eternity is both boring and counterproductive, most people lose form after a minute, causing strain on their back. This routine keeps you moving so you keep seeing results sans the back pain. Bonus: No equipment needed.
Do the following plank series twice, resting between series:
15 Forearm Side Plank with “Thread the Needle” (curl top arm under and back up), each side
10 Pushups to Straight-arm Side Plank
1-minute Side Plank
Forearm Planks with 20 Toe Taps (do all 20 with one foot then switch sides)
Forearm Plank with 20 Side-to-Side Hip Dips
20 Knee-to-Shoulder Knee-ins
20 Knee-to-Opposite-Shoulder Knee-ins
15 Forearm Side Plank with “Thread the Needle”

Standing Abs Workout

You don’t have to take all your core work lying down. Do three rounds of the following circuit:
20 Dumbbell Chops (each side)
Plank with 20 Knee-ins (do all on one side, hold the last one for 5 breaths, then switch)
8 Forward Lunges
8 Single-leg Squats with Dumbbell Lateral Raise (weight on the same side as a working leg), each side
12 Dumbbell Overhead Press (hold one weight in both hands by the bells), each side
20 Dumbbell Swings (hold from one bell with both hands; swing like a kettlebell)

Bodyweight Abs Workout

No equipment? No problem. Do three rounds of this circuit:
20 Butterfly Kicks (done lying on your back)
20 Crunches
20 Russian Twists
20 Elbow-to-Knee Crunches20 Butterfly Situps (soles of feet together, knees out to the side)
20 Side-to-Side Knee Drops (on back, knees bent up in a right angle)
20 Crunches
20 Butterfly Kicks (done lying on your back)

Lying Alternating Leg Lifts (each side)

20 Supine Reverse Crunches with Overhead Dumbbell (hold the weight right above the ground and raise your legs up to a reverse crunch)
20 Bicycle Crunches (make sure to fully extend your legs)
10 Inchworms (hold briefly in plank position)
20 Knee-to-Shoulder Knee-ins
20 Knee-to-Opposite-Shoulder Knee-ins
Abs workout 9: 5-minute abs circuit
For when you’re short on time but not on motivation. Do three to five rounds of the following:
20 Dumbbell Pullovers
20 Bicycles with Full Leg Extension
Forearm Plank with 20 Side-to-Side Hip Dips

Rotational Power Workout

Twisting—or, really, learning to control against a twist—is an advanced technique but essential for improving core power. After a warmup, do two rounds of the following circuit:
8 Forward Lunges with Dumbbell Twist, (each side hold dumbbell from its bells and bring weight across front knee)
12 Dumbbell Overhead Press with a twist (each side)
20 Dumbbell Renegade Rows
10 Pushups to Straight-arm Side Plank
15 Forearm Side Plank with “thread the needle,” each side
20 Dumbbell Chops, each side
10 Side-to-side Dumbbell Chops (staggered feet, chop, then as you bring the weight back up, pivot on feet 180 degrees before chopping again)