Don't shortchange yourself with biceps curls and crunches. Save time at the gym and challenge your body with these exercises that focus on both your arms and your abs! Some are equipment-free and some require weights — think dumbbells or a med ball — but all these moves are bona fide multitaskers. Be sure to add them into your workout rotation.
As you stabilize your core while circling the medicine ball above your head, your abs will feel the burn. Your arms will feel it, too!
Adding weights to the classic sit-up brings a whole new level of toning to your workout.
In this variation, the abs work extra to maintain stability as you pull the dumbbell away from your center, which works your upper arm.
Twisting in a plank position fires up the core and challenges your arms strength, too.
Twisting is good for the spine and tones the obliques, the ab muscles that crisscross the abdomen. To increase your stability in this position, reach your bottom toward the ceiling — this also works the inner thighs.
Side planks tone the abs, and adding the reverse fly into the mix not only challenges your core a bit more, but also tones the back of the shoulder. Squeeze your inner thighs together for added stability.
This exercise will leave both your arms and your abs burning — in the best way possible.
You really need to tighten up your abs to keep your torso stable before starting the push-up.
This push-up works the shoulders, but you are going to need your abs to push off your forearms to return to the Downward Dog position.
You will be shocked by how intense this exercise is on both your abs and arms. But don't throw in the towel (see what I did there?).
Work your arms and abs while improving your posture with this simple move.
This is a full-body move that really targets the core and shoulders.
Your arms will burn after this exercise, but your abs are still working — they keep the torso stable while moving between elbow plank and full plank.
This plank variation works the entire body! But your abs better kick into gear to keep you stable.
Yes, the elbow plank works the arms, but keeping your torso still and stable while lifting your legs is all abs.
Adding the instability of the medicine ball forces your abs to work overtime in this push-up variation.
Feel your triceps come alive in this dynamic ab exercise.
This exercise works the abs, especially the obliques, while raising your heart rate too.
Fire up the back of your arms with this move! Plus the twisting action of the toe touch will work your abs.
The secret sauce in this exercise: use your abs to control your movement on the way down. Uncurl slowly instead of just letting gravity pull you down.
This variation of the wood chop also works the core and the arms.
The chest fly definitely works your pecs and upper arms, but holding the tabletop leg position is no joke. Focus on pulling your low abs to your spine to keep your pelvis stable.
Adding the pulse to the side plank works your abs and arms even more.
This is one of the best deltoid exercises around and will tone your shoulders, but your abs are getting some serious work, too.
If you don't feel your abs when you do push-ups, try this variation.