Ab Exercises

Looking for a two-for-one move? Try this abs and triceps variation using a stability ball! Although this is a triceps move, your abs are fully engaged to keep you balanced, allowing you to work two areas at once; feeling the burn in your entire upper body.

For directions on how to do this multitasking move, read more

There's a lot a pregnant woman can count on following the birth of a long-awaited baby, including sleepless nights and visitors flocking to her home for a viewing. But the zinger is the postbaby bulge.

That round bump that was so cute during the final months of your pregnancy becomes a balloon of bothersome flab that bulges over your waistband. People tell you it will eventually shrink back (you hope). But if you feel like dialing your ob-gyn to ask, "Are you sure I didn't have twins and you left the other little guy in there?" you're not alone.

Of all the common changes to our postpartum bodies, which can include stretch marks, varicose veins, and even new birth marks, the bulging belly is the one that seems to bother us the most, according to a survey of Circle of Mom members.

Forty-three percent of moms say in the survey that pregnancy left them with a fat, flabby belly, while 16 percent say it all settled in their hips, and five percent say their feet have grown and their shoes don’t fit. Around 29 percent share that they feel like their whole body has changed.

"My son is 4.5 months old and my body is definitely not what it was," says Jessica C. "[While I] lost all the weight I gained while pregnant plus 10 more pounds, [I have] the pudge belly. I need my body back."

Is there anything moms can do to slim down, tighten their abs, and reclaim their prebaby bodies? Moms share their tips, here.

Keep reading.

When it comes your core, it takes more than crunches to achieve flat abs. Turning to celebrity trainer Juliet Kaska, we uncovered a few tricks of the trade to get a rock-solid core like her celebrity clients Pink and Stacy Keibler. Keeping the details in mind, these five tips will elevate your ab workout and have you well on your way to your bikini body — ASAP!

• Maximize each series with weights: If you're looking to tone up quickly, adding weights will do the job. Grabbing hand weights — Kaska suggests a pair of five-pound dumbbells — for your ab work will increase the difficulty and challenge your muscles further. For a challenging ab series, try these ab exercises with weights.
• The exhale matters: One of the best ways you can make ab exercises more effective is through proper breath. Similar to Pilates, your inhale and exhale will help allow you to control each movement to maximize engagement. The exhale is especially important when using weights because it allows you to fully squeeze your abs, which helps stabilize the entire body.
• Adjust exercises with time: As you go through a set or series, your body begins to adapt. Rather than letting it plateau, adjust your speed. As you get more comfortable with the move, Kaska suggests you increase speed "to challenge your core even more." Keep in mind this works well for some exercises — like plank — while for others, slowing your momentum adds an additional challenge.
• Control is key: For Kaska, control can't be stressed enough because in many core exercises (especially those with weights) you're working against gravity. To "put up a good fight" in challenging ab moves like the coordination fly you have to work against gravity on the way down. Applying this type of focus to your core work, engages muscles for full control and maximum results.

Looking to shake up your quest for a six-pack? All you need is a resistance band. These three moves beat boredom and are great to do while you travel, since throwing a resistance band into your suitcase requires barely any space. Find out how to do these three resistance band ab exercises below.

Half Boat With Wings

Balancing on your bum while your legs push against the resistance band requires lots of ab strength. Feel the burn with the half boat with wings:

• Sit on a mat with your legs in front of you with your feet together. Wrap the resistance band over your quads and under your hamstrings so you're forming an X with the band and so the handles are on either side of your legs. Lift your legs and bend your knees slightly as shown, balancing on your bum.
• Engage your abs and keep your back straight and chest lifted. Pull on the band as you push your legs out to the sides, then bring them back in. This counts as one rep. Adjust the band if you need more or less resistance.
• Do three sets of 15 reps without lowering your legs.

Watch our video on resistance band moves to see how to do the half boat with wings.

One-Arm Seated Row With Rotation

• Sit on a mat with your legs out in front of you. Loop one side of the band over your right foot and control the tension by holding onto more or less of the band as needed (the more slack you give, the easier it will be.).
• Hold onto the left handle of the resistance band with your left hand. Keeping your left arm low, with your elbow at a 90-degree angle, rotate to your left as you pull your left wrist to your waist. Rotate back to center.
• Do 15 reps, then repeat with the resistance band on your left foot, rotating to the right.

Read on for one more ab-defining move.

Dedicate a handful of minutes a day to getting stronger and more defined abs. Perform each of the following exercises for one minute each. If you have 10 or 15 to spare for your future six-pack, then repeat this sequence two or three times.

Number 1: Mountain Climbers

• Start in a traditional push-up starting position — shoulders over hands and weight on just your toes.
• Bring your right foot forward, bending the knee and putting weight on the ball of your foot.
• Switch legs, bringing the left knee forward while moving the right leg back. It feels a little like running in place in a plank position.
• For an advanced variation to work your abs more, keep the ball of your foot off the floor as you bring the knee in toward your chest.
• Quickly move through this exercise for as long as possible without taking a break — at least 30 seconds! Take a quick breather if need be, but pick up again until one minute is up.

Number 2: Plank With Side Step

• Start on the floor, resting on your forearms and knees, and come up into a plank position. Contract your abs to prevent your booty from sticking up or sinking. Your spine should be parallel to the floor, your abs pulling toward the ceiling, and your feet should be close to hip-distance apart.
• Once you're in a strong elbow plank, step your left foot outward (about eight to 10 inches), keeping your core engaged and strong. Step your left foot back to the starting position. Now, step your right foot outward before coming back to center. This counts as one rep.
• Complete as many reps as possible for one minute.

See the rest of the workout after the break!