Power up your plank by adding a side leg lift

Challenge your core with this move. Begin in a high plank, on your hands and toes, body straight. Then, lift your right foot off the ground about 2 inches. Keeping your torso and shoulders still, lift your right foot up toward your right hand, and then return to your starting position. Next, lift your left foot up off the floor. In a smooth, controlled motion move your left foot toward your left hand, and then return to your starting position. Do 6 total reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Power Up Your Plank

V Sit Abdominal Exercise

Strengthen your abs and core with this crunch-less ab exercise. Begin sitting on the floor, with both legs out straight in front of you. Bend both knees, lean back slightly and place both hands on the floor for support. Pull your belly button in and keep your torso in proper alignment. In one motion, lift both feet up off the floor. Hold for a count of 20 seconds, and then release. Begin with 5 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Crunch-less Abs

Double Ab Challenge!

Double up on your ab challenge with this crunch-plus exercise. Begin lying on your back on the floor. Hold a stability ball between your ankles and knees. Next using both legs lift the ball up off the floor and stabilize your hips and legs. Then  perform a traditional abdominal crunch. Holding your legs still while performing a crunch adds an extra ab challenge.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Are You Up For a Double Ab Challenge?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Seated Ab Exercise

Not all ab exercises involve a crunch on the floor. Target your abs in chair by performing this exercise super slow and controlled. This ab move strengthens your entire core, as well as your hip and thigh muscles. Form is important however, so be sure your posture is spot on. Begin seated on the front part of your chair with both feet flat on the floor. Sit up tall and place both arms across your chest. From your hips and keeping your back aligned, slowly lean back about 4-6 inches. Pause to break momentum, and then pulling your belly button in toward your spine, move your torso forward until you are sitting up straight again. Start with 10 slow and controlled reps. If you’d like a intermediate move, lean back, pause to un-weight your torso on the back of the chair for one second, then return to your starting position of sitting up tall.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise. This is not for those with low back injury concerns.

Abs in a Chair

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Reverse Plank for Core!

Begin seated on the floor. Place both hands flat on the ground just under your shoulders. Place both feet flat just forward of your knees. Lift up your hips. Hold for 10 seconds. Pull your shoulders down into your body, squeeze your glutes and pull your belly butting in toward your spine.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Challenge Your Core

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Ab-Hold Exercise!

Isometric exercise means your muscles are holding a position tight, without movement. Try an Isometric Ab-Hold exercise to strengthen your core. Begin seated. Place both arms along the side of your body for support. Next slowly lean back until you feel your abs engage. Next, lift both legs up off the floor. Breathe normally. Hold for a count of 10 seconds, then release.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Isometric Abs!

Plank with Shoulder Tap

Begin in a plank on your hands and toes. Next, keeping your body still, lift your right hand and touch your left shoulder, then return to the floor. Repeat, lifting your left hand and touch your right shoulder, return your hand to the floor. Do 10 reps, slow and controlled.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Ready to Challenge Your Plank?

Plank to strengthen your entire core!

Strengthen your entire core with this plank variation. Here’s how to begin:

Begin in a plank with your toes and hands on the floor. Place your hands directly below your shoulders. Keep your belly button up. Next, lift your right hand and left foot up off the floor. Hold for 2-3 seconds, then release. Next, lift your left hand and right foot up off the floor. Hold for 2-3 seconds, and release. Repeat for 10 total repetitions.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Strengthen Your Core with this Plank

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Crunch-hold with both legs up!

To target your core try this crunch exercise:

Lie on your back on the floor. Lift both legs up, with your knees over your hips and your lower legs parallel to the floor. Next, lift your shoulder blades up off the floor to establish your starting position. For more of a challenge, extend both arms straight off the floor along the side of your body. Hold this position for 2 deep breaths or 10 seconds, then release. Do 3-5 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise. This exercise is not for those with back injury concerns.

Strengthen your Abs: Crunch…Plus!

Planks… Plus!

Take your planks up a level by adding in 2 additional moves:

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Keep your body straight. Next, lift up your right leg, bend your knee and pull your knee up toward your chest. Straighten your knee to complete 1 rep. Do 10 reps, then release. Repeat with your left knee. Do 10 reps.

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Lift your right leg up off the floor about 6 inches. Keeping your knee straight, slide your leg out to the side about 10-12 inches, then return to the center to complete 1 rep. Do 10 times, then release. Repeat with your left leg. Do 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Take Your Planks Up a Level