What are the most efficient ab exercises?

[Anonymous]

2025 is the year I get rid of the post partum and now post menopausal belly. I am committed.

I have a pretty strong core and losing 10-15 lbs would help. Working on that but looking for ideas for ab exercises.

I used to do crunches, crunches with twist to left and right, leg lifts while lying down, plank at the gym. I take ballet classes and do a lot of hiking. In the summer I do a lot of paddling, canoeing.

What ab exercises do you do, for how long, and how often per week?

[Anonymous]

For me, Pure Barre classes. Even the exercises that are not intended to be ab-focused work your core. I take 3-4 classes a week and sometimes mix in reformer pilates.

[Anonymous]

I did peloton core strength for years, which was great for creating a solid base bug some instructors were better than others and some exercises caused more problems than good. Over time, I found what worked for me and what didn’t. Now I focus on 10 min of deep core exercises daily and it’s made a huge difference. I do 20-30 of the following exercises and repeat the set. These are also diastasis recti repair exercises so you can google that for more in-depth description on the exercise.

20-30 each (repeat set)
Alternating Heel slides
Alternating Knee falls
Alternating Toe taps on floor
Dead bugs
Hip bridges
Side plank each side
Bird dog
Pelvic tilts on hands/knees
Repeat set

[Anonymous]

Reformer pilates worked for me. I am overweight but still can see abs and an ab crack. My core is very strong. I can hold a plank for several minutes.

[Anonymous]

I’m a huge fan of big exercise balls. You can do a lot of ab work with the ball.

[Anonymous]

skipping dessert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did peloton core strength for years, which was great for creating a solid base bug some instructors were better than others and some exercises caused more problems than good. Over time, I found what worked for me and what didn’t. Now I focus on 10 min of deep core exercises daily and it’s made a huge difference. I do 20-30 of the following exercises and repeat the set. These are also diastasis recti repair exercises so you can google that for more in-depth description on the exercise.

20-30 each (repeat set)
Alternating Heel slides
Alternating Knee falls
Alternating Toe taps on floor
Dead bugs
Hip bridges
Side plank each side
Bird dog
Pelvic tilts on hands/knees
Repeat set

Ha! I have a bad back and these are all the exercises my physical therapist gave to me as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reformer pilates worked for me. I am overweight but still can see abs and an ab crack. My core is very strong. I can hold a plank for several minutes.

[Anonymous]

There was just an article published in The Guardian about extreme pilates called Solidcore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was just an article published in The Guardian about extreme pilates called Solidcore.

Solidcore started in DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did peloton core strength for years, which was great for creating a solid base bug some instructors were better than others and some exercises caused more problems than good. Over time, I found what worked for me and what didn’t. Now I focus on 10 min of deep core exercises daily and it’s made a huge difference. I do 20-30 of the following exercises and repeat the set. These are also diastasis recti repair exercises so you can google that for more in-depth description on the exercise.

20-30 each (repeat set)
Alternating Heel slides
Alternating Knee falls
Alternating Toe taps on floor
Dead bugs
Hip bridges
Side plank each side
Bird dog
Pelvic tilts on hands/knees
Repeat set

Did you mean to say that all of this takes 10 minutes? Or which ones are the deep core exercises? If there's a 10 min solution, I'm interested!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did peloton core strength for years, which was great for creating a solid base bug some instructors were better than others and some exercises caused more problems than good. Over time, I found what worked for me and what didn’t. Now I focus on 10 min of deep core exercises daily and it’s made a huge difference. I do 20-30 of the following exercises and repeat the set. These are also diastasis recti repair exercises so you can google that for more in-depth description on the exercise.

20-30 each (repeat set)
Alternating Heel slides
Alternating Knee falls
Alternating Toe taps on floor
Dead bugs
Hip bridges
Side plank each side
Bird dog
Pelvic tilts on hands/knees
Repeat set

Did you mean to say that all of this takes 10 minutes? Or which ones are the deep core exercises? If there's a 10 min solution, I'm interested!

This entire set (done twice) takes 10 minutes! I do it every single day. It’s an entire set of all deep core exercises. When I say “alternating,” thats 20 total (so 10 each side)

Try it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did peloton core strength for years, which was great for creating a solid base bug some instructors were better than others and some exercises caused more problems than good. Over time, I found what worked for me and what didn’t. Now I focus on 10 min of deep core exercises daily and it’s made a huge difference. I do 20-30 of the following exercises and repeat the set. These are also diastasis recti repair exercises so you can google that for more in-depth description on the exercise.

20-30 each (repeat set)
Alternating Heel slides
Alternating Knee falls
Alternating Toe taps on floor
Dead bugs
Hip bridges
Side plank each side
Bird dog
Pelvic tilts on hands/knees
Repeat set

Did you mean to say that all of this takes 10 minutes? Or which ones are the deep core exercises? If there's a 10 min solution, I'm interested!

This entire set (done twice) takes 10 minutes! I do it every single day. It’s an entire set of all deep core exercises. When I say “alternating,” thats 20 total (so 10 each side)

Try it

That sounds amazing. I will look up all of these exercises. Have never heard of bird dog, dead bugs.

[Anonymous]

Plate pushes- push the plate of food away.

yes you can exercise your abs but abs are made in the kitchen. Exercise will not give you a flat tummy only diet will do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plate pushes- push the plate of food away.

yes you can exercise your abs but abs are made in the kitchen. Exercise will not give you a flat tummy only diet will do that.

Yes that's true but you're talking aesthetics. Having a strong core is still important as its foundational to many other exercises as well as your daily activities.