The best ab exercises to do at home
Check out our favourite abdominal exercises that you can do from home.
Lots of people come to SnowDome Fitness wanting a toned stomach or to lose weight from the belly area. We're here to tell you that no amount of ab exercises will give you a flatter stomach. Maintaining a calorie deficit, eating the right foods and exercising consistently will shift body fat from the midriff.
So, what's the point of training your core? Training your abs is still an essential part of overall fitness. A strong core means better posture, you'll be able to lift more and perform cardio workouts for longer. Regularly training your core will stave off the negative effects of working at a desk... and combined with eating correctly, will give you the thick, defined stomach area that a lot of people are looking for. What's more, a strong core is essential for all sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, ice skating and climbing.
Check out SnowDome Fitness' gym manager, Abi's top core exercises you can do at home, no gym equipment required.
1. Alternating v-sits
Lie flat on your back with your legs out straight in front of you and your arms down by your sides. Lift one leg up toward the ceiling and then squeeze your glute. Press your lower back into the ground and engage your abs as you lift your leg up. Then crunch your upper body up as you reach your opposite arm up toward the toes of your raised leg.
2. Plank with shoulder taps
Start in a plank position, with your wrists under your shoulders and your feet hip width apart. Touch your left shoulder with your right hand and return to the plank position. Touch your right shoulder with your left hand and continue alternating sides. Be careful not to rock back and forth, reset your position after each rep.
3. In & out crunches
Lie flat on your back with legs out straight. Tilt your head slightly towards your chest. With control, bring your abdominals inward lifting your chest upwards. At the same time bring your knees towards your stomach. From here, return to your start position.
4. Leg raise & reverse crunch
Lie faceup, legs extended. Place your hands underneath your lower back and glutes so your pelvis is supported. Begin to raise your legs toward the ceiling, pressing your thighs together and keeping the legs straight. From here, use your abs to tighten your legs inwards and up, extending your glutes and lower back off the floor.
5. Russian twists
This exercise can be done with or without weights. You can use a water bottle or even a pillow. Sit on the floor and bring your legs out straight. Lean back slightly so your torso and legs form a V-like shape, bracing your abdominal wall to engage your core. Balancing here, twist your torso from side to side without moving your legs.
That's SnowDome Fitness' top five ab exercises to do at home. These exercises are all easy, require minimal kit and are quick to do, so next time you're bored on the sofa, hop on the floor and get to work!
