The best ab workouts you can do for free, from anywhere
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Whether you have just a few minutes during your lunch break or prefer longer sessions with added resistance, we've curated a collection of the best ab workouts for you to try. But before you roll out one of the best yoga mats, we've put these routines to the test ourselves and gathered some valuable tips to maximize your results.
While ab workouts are a great way to strengthen your core, it's essential to recognize that sculpting your abs goes beyond the mat. No amount of sit-ups or crunches can outdo the importance of proper nutrition and overall calorie management for achieving visible results.
Remember, targeted fat loss isn't possible, and shedding excess fat often involves a combination of healthy eating habits and full-body exercises. Learn more about calculating your body fat percentage and why it's essential for your overall health journey.
Beyond aesthetics, research suggests that reducing belly fat can have significant health benefits, including lowering the risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Plus, a strong core contributes to improved athletic performance and can even help alleviate lower back pain. So whether you're aiming for a leaner physique or better functional fitness, our selection of the best ab workouts has something for everyone. Let's dive in and strengthen those core muscles.
10-minute ab workouts
There's a reason why so many people are searching for a 10-minute ab workout — you don't need to spend hours sculpting your core to get a good workout. These workouts are often straight to the point, without any breaks, but remember, you’ve probably spent longer in line at Starbucks — you’ve got this!
Ab workout with weights
If you're really looking to challenge yourself, or you're looking for an abs workout you can do in the gym, why not add weights to the mix? (No weights? No problem — we've found the best adjustable dumbbells for working out at home here).
Remember to control your ego with this one and select a weight that feels heavy, but not too heavy. The movements should be slow and controlled and don't be afraid to drop down to a lower weight if you're losing your form at any point.
Chloe Ting ab workout
There's no wonder Chloe Ting's ab workouts get viewed millions of times — they work. Our top Chloe Ting ab workout is part of Ting’s two-week shred challenge, which involves following four of her workouts a week, for two weeks, to see results. The shred challenge includes a 13-minute HIIT workout, the abs workout we tried, another abs and core workout, and a lower body workout. We added it to our workout schedule for two weeks and noticed a real difference in our abs (they also ached, a LOT).
Daisy Keech ab workout
Daisy Keech ab workout gets an average of 90,000 searches per month and Keech's workouts have a serious following. The YouTuber has put together a set of exercises designed to clinch the waist and target the lower abs.
We've hand-picked some of the best Daisy Keech ab workouts here, but a reminder: Keech often leaves the oblique muscles out of her workouts, and this isn't something we'd recommend doing, so don't just focus on these works alone.
Pamela Reif ab workout
Pamela Reif's ab workouts are popular for a few reasons — she's an excellent instructor, her videos are clear and easy to follow along to, and they get results, fast. You can read what happened when our fitness editor did Pamela Reif ab workouts everyday for a week here, or find some of our favorite Pamela Reif ab workouts below.
Ab workout challenge
If you're looking for an ab workout challenge to blast your core and kick-start your workout routine, we've tried plenty. The links below are a mix of organized challenges, and ones we've come up with ourselves. You can thank us later.
I just did the Peloton core challenge — here’s what happened to my abs
I did 100 dead bugs a day for a week and was surprised by the results
I did 50 walking planks a day for a week and was surprised by the results
Celebrity ab workouts
Of course, when it comes to ab inspiration, you don't often have to look much further than some of Hollywood's most famous faces. If you'd like to peek into the personal training plans of some of your favorite film stars, take a look at the celebrity ab workouts we've tried below.
I just tried JLo’s ab workout for a week — here’s what happened
I just tried Chris Hemsworth's 200-rep bodyweight workout and wow
Pilates ab workouts
Pilates is a “mind-body” exercise, developed in the 20th Century by a man named Joseph Pilates. It’s low-impact, so suitable for all levels of fitness, and works on improving your strength, posture, and structural alignment. It's also super-effective when it comes to targeting your core. Take a look at some of the best Pilates exercises to add to your next ab workout below.
Use this at-home Pilates workout with weights to strengthen your entire body
This at-home Pilates ab workout develops your entire core in under 30 minutes
Standing ab workout
If you're moving your ab workouts outside as the weather gets nicer and don't fancy lying on the ground, or you physically find it difficult getting down to the ground, a standing ab workout is a good way to go. We've found some of the best standing ab workouts below:
