3 Of The Best Ab Exercises

Here's a shocking truth for you: some of the best ab exercises are those in which you don't directly train your abs at all! It's true: there are plenty of exercises besides crunches and leg lifts that train the abs very effectively. Here are three examples:

1. Front Squats

This is a version of a squat where you use your abs big time. You can use a barbell, dumbell, kettlebell, or anything heavy to hold in front of you in order to add weight. Holding the weight close to the body and at about shoulder height, sit the hips back and drop into a squat - kind of like you're sitting in a chair. The knees should stay behind the toes. The knees should also track over the toes - make sure your knees aren't caving in towards each other or bowing out. There's a lot of form involved with this one, so getting a personal trainer to help you out might not be a bad idea.

2. Mountain Climbers

Start in a the top of a push-up position. Alternate bringing the right knee and left knee towards the chest. Keep the hips low - you don't want to be bouncing up and down. Really try to use the lower abs to do the movement.

3. Renegade Rows

For this exercise, start in a push-up position again, but hold a dumbell in each hand. Row the db up towards the body with the right side while keeping contact with the ground with both feet and the opposite hand, then switch sides. This one is an advanced drill, but master it and you'll have stronger and firmer abs to show for it!

You might put these exercises together into a workout by doing 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps each.

The front squat, the mountain climber, and the rengade row are three of the best, most effective ab exercises you can do. Amazingly, you're not even directly hitting the abs with these drills. Master these and you'll be well on your way to a flat stomach and six pack abs!