While we love a good ab workout, a killer core isn’t just about a flat stomach. Whittling your middle also means paying attention to your sides, or, more specifically, your obliques. Strong obliques will make your waist appear slimmer, improve your posture, support your lower back, and make your clothes fit even better.
And crunches won’t do you any favors here! So we tapped trainers with sick abs from across the country to share their secret moves for toning up the oblique muscles. Plus, cut-outs and crop tops are still holding strong in the fashion world—and they’re perfect for showing off chiseled obliques. Get ready to sweat!
1. Do 15 bent-leg jackknifes.
1. Lie on your back with your legs straight and your arms extended back.
2. Raise your torso and bend your knees simultaneously, and then hug your knees with both hands.
3. Return to the starting position and repeat.
2. Do 15 straight-leg raises with a hips lift.
Lie on your back. Rest your hands by your sides, palms facing down, or place your hands underneath your butt for a little leverage.
Extend both legs out so they are a few inches above the ground. Draw your lower abs in, pressing your lower back into the floor.
In one fluid motion, bend your knees into your chest, press your hips up as high as you can, lower your hips to the floor, and extend your legs straight out.
This completes one rep.
3. Do 15 ab bikes.
1. Lie on your back, lift your shoulders off the mat and raise both legs.
2. Bring one knee and the opposing elbow close to each other by crunching to one side, and fully extend the other leg.
3. Return to the starting position and then crunch to the opposite side.
4. Repeat until the set is complete
4. Do 15 cross mountain climbers.
1. Start with your body in a straight line and your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your toes and balls of the feet touching the floor.
2. Bring one knee up toward the center of your stomach and then quickly alternate between legs.
3. Continue alternating until set is complete.
5. Do 15 snap jumps.
Lie face down on a padded surface. Place your hands beneath your shoulders and make sure your feet are extended straight behind you. Push yourself up into a classical Push-Up position. Keep your hips are slightly elevated. Tighten your core.
Keeping your gaze straight, push off the ground with your feet. Bending your knees, allow your feet to come up near your hands.
Immediately, push off the ground again with your feet, extending your legs straight behind you once again to the starting position.
6. Do 15 sit-ups with reach.
Lay on your back with bent knees and feet flat on the ground, and place your hands on opposite shoulders.
Keeping your heels on the ground and your toes flat to the ground, engage your abdominal muscles, and gently lift your head first, followed by your shoulder blades, coming into a full-sit up position.
Hold the position for a second, and with control, come slowly back to lying on your back.
This completes one full sit-up.
7. Do 15 tuck jumps.
Place your feet at shoulder-width with your toes pointed slightly out. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
Bend first at the knees then at the hips. Lower yourself slightly to pre-engage the hamstring muscles. Now launch yourself up into the air.
At the same time, bring your knees up towards your chest in midair. Land on both feet with slightly bent knees. Move right into your next jump.