View this post on Instagram[1]
While you can knock out quite a few ab moves using no equipment at all [2], when I'm really trying to increase my core strength [3], I like to reach for some weight. Turns out, there's a lot of weighted ab moves you can do besides the usual ones (looking at you, Russian twists [4]) if you're looking to torch your core and build some muscle — NASM-certified personal trainer QiQi Hill [5] demoed four that are great to put together in a short workout or add into one of your routines.
If you're looking for a deep ab burn with just a couple of dumbbells, here are the moves Hill demos in the post above:
- Overhead dumbbell press with boat hold [6]
- Alternating V-up [7] with dumbbell
- Overhead dumbbell sit-up
- Cross-body mountain climber [8]
Hill doesn't offer any rep suggestions, but if you want to make this into a short ab workout, start with 10 reps of each exercise and two to three sets of the full circuit. Or, throw these moves at the end of a full-body dumbbell workout to make your abs a little more sore tomorrow. Grab a pair of dumbbells (here's how to choose the right weight [9]) and get ready to work your core!
